Word forms: comparative airier, superlative airiest
1. adjective
If a building or room is airy, it has a lot of fresh air inside, usually because it is large.
The bathroom has a light and airy feel.
Synonyms: well-ventilated, open, light, fresh More Synonyms of airy
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use airy to describe someone's behaviour when they are light-hearted and casual about things which some people take seriously.
Giving them an airy wave of his hand, the Commander sailed past.
Synonyms: light-hearted, light, happy, gay [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of airy
airily (eərɪli)graded adverb [ADVERB with verb]
'I'll be all right,' he said airily. 'It was only a thought.'
Synonyms: light-heartedly, happily, blithely, gaily More Synonyms of airy
More Synonyms of airy
airy in British English
(ˈɛərɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: airier or airiest
1.
abounding in fresh air
2.
spacious or uncluttered
3.
nonchalant; superficial
4.
visionary; fanciful
airy promises
airy plans
5.
of or relating to air
6.
weightless and insubstantial
an airy gossamer
7.
light and graceful in movement
8.
having no material substance
airy spirits
9.
high up in the air; lofty
10.
performed in the air; aerial
Airy in British English
(ˈɛərɪ)
noun
Sir George Biddell. 1801–92, British astronomer, noted for his estimate of the earth's density from gravity measurements in mines; astronomer royal (1835–81)
airy in American English
(ˈɛri)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈairier or ˈairiest
1.
in the air; high up
2.
of air
3.
open to the air; breezy
4.
unsubstantial as air; visionary
5.
light as air; delicate; graceful
6.
lighthearted; vivacious
7.
affectedly nonchalant; grand
Examples of 'airy' in a sentence
airy
UPSIDE The large windows make the house light and airy.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A spacious red brick building with 83 bright and airy rooms.
The Sun (2016)
Make sure that the desks are comfortable and the room is large and airy.
Siann, Gerda & Ugwuegbu, Denis C. E. Educational Psychology in a Changing World (1988)
Then you deserve to recover in the deep leather chairs of the airy reading room.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The light tan of the upholstery and roof linings gives an airy feel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The light and airy salons have parquet floors and antiques.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That makes the crust and keeps the inside from becoming airy during baking.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But how lofty and airy the galleries appear.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The airy rooms are all unique and very tasteful.
The Sun (2014)
The cabin also has a spacious and airy feel to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The house is built primarily of stone and has an unusually light and airy feel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Kitchen designers have various tricks for making a confined space feel airy.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The bar is light and airy without seeming out of place.
The Sun (2014)
It was bright and airy inside with blond wooden floors and windows offering glimpses of trees and lush grass.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The sheds are large and airy, they can move around.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Inside, it is spacious and airy.
The Sun (2009)
It has a very lofty, airy feel with high ceilings and lots of glass.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Interiors at this time were light and airy, with large windows.
Churchill, Jane (ed.) Collins Complete Books of Soft Furnishings (1993)
In their place are lavishly appointed, spacious and airy new ships.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This newly opened salon has an airy, modern feel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It has a fabulous feeling of space with four light, airy bedrooms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I stayed in a large and airy room with a sea view.
The Sun (2010)
This may be a working organic farm, but the ten airy rooms given over to guests are exquisite.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's light and airy with high ceilings, wood floors and vintage seaside prints.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Blue plants generally lighten up the planting, giving it a fresh, airy feel.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Inside, the airy lounge and dining area has French windows on to the terrace and the three bedrooms are unfussy but comfortable.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
airy
British English: airy ADJECTIVE
If a building or room is airy, it has a lot of fresh air inside.
The bathroom has a light and airy feel.
American English: airy
Brazilian Portuguese: arejado
Chinese: 通风的
European Spanish: bien ventilado
French: spacieux
German: luftig
Italian: arioso
Japanese: 風通しのよい
Korean: 통풍이 잘 되는
European Portuguese: arejado
Latin American Spanish: bien ventilado
Chinese translation of 'airy'
airy
(ˈɛərɪ)
adj
[room, building]通风(風)的 (tōngfēng de)
(= casual)[manner]没(沒)头(頭)脑(腦)的 (méi tóunǎo de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
spacious and well ventilated
The bathroom is light and airy.
Synonyms
well-ventilated
open
light
Try to wear light, loose clothes.
fresh
spacious
windy
It was a windy, overcast day.
lofty
breezy
The day was breezy and warm.
uncluttered
draughty
gusty
Weather forecasts predict gusty winds and lightning strikes.
blowy
Opposites
close,
heavy
,
stifling
,
oppressive
,
stale
,
suffocating
,
stuffy
,
airless
,
muggy
,
unventilated
2 (adjective)
Definition
light-hearted and casual
He sailed past, giving them an airy wave of the hand.
Synonyms
light-hearted
They were light-hearted and prepared to enjoy life.
light
to finish on a lighter note
happy
We have a very happy marriage.
gay (old-fashioned)
I am in good health, gay and cheerful.
lively
She had a sweet, lively personality.
cheerful
They are both very cheerful in spite of their circumstances.
animated
Everyone became more animated.
merry
He was much loved for his merry nature.
upbeat (informal)
Neil's colleagues say he was actually in a joking, upbeat mood.
buoyant
She was in a buoyant mood.
graceful
cheery
He is loved by everyone for his cheery disposition and sense of humour.
genial
He was a warm-hearted friend and a genial host.
high-spirited
Her high-spirited demeanour was not ideally suited for palace life.
jaunty
The novel is altogether jauntier than these quotations imply.
chirpy (informal)
You're very chirpy today - have you won the lottery or something?
sprightly
the sprightly 85-year-old president
debonair
nonchalant
blithe
His spirit was anything but blithe below the surface.
frolicsome
Opposites
sad
,
miserable
,
gloomy
,
dismal
,
melancholy
,
glum
,
morose
,
cheerless
3 (adjective)
Definition
having little basis in reality
`launch aid', an airy euphemism for more state handouts
Synonyms
insubstantial
Their thoughts seemed as insubstantial as smoke.
imaginary
Lots of children have imaginary friends.
visionary
the visionary worlds created by fantasy writers
flimsy
a flimsy wooden door
fanciful
fanciful ideas about Martian life
ethereal
the ethereal world of romantic fiction
immaterial
illusory
the illusory nature of nationhood
wispy
a wispy chiffon dress
weightless
incorporeal
vaporous
Opposites
real
,
material
,
substantial
,
concrete
,
realistic
,
tangible
,
corporeal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animated
Definition
interesting and lively
Everyone became more animated.
Synonyms
lively,
spirited,
quick,
excited,
active,
vital,
dynamic,
enthusiastic,
passionate,
vivid,
vigorous,
energetic,
vibrant,
brisk,
buoyant,
ardent,
airy,
fervent,
zealous,
elated,
ebullient,
sparky,
sprightly,
vivacious,
gay (old-fashioned),
alive and kicking,
full of beans (informal),
zestful
in the sense of blithe
Definition
very happy or cheerful
His spirit was anything but blithe below the surface.