beauty
beauty
Pronunciation
Beauty: /ˈbjuːti/
Beau-: /bjuː/
-ty: /ti/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: beauty
Plural: beauties
Adjective:
beautiful (comparative: more beautiful; superlative: most beautiful)
Adverb:
beautifully
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Beauty
A quality or set of qualities in a person, animal, place, or object that elicits pleasure, admiration, or a deep sense of satisfaction, often characterized by harmony, grace, or a captivating appearance.
Synonyms: attractiveness, comeliness, loveliness, allure, charm, elegance, grace, pulchritude
Antonyms: ugliness, hideousness, unsightliness, plainness, disfigurement
An exceptional or outstanding example of something, possessing qualities that are highly admirable or desirable within its category.
Synonyms: marvel, wonder, gem, masterpiece, paragon, prize, pearl
Antonyms: mediocrity, commonality, failure, disappointment
Adjective
Beautiful
Possessing qualities that give great pleasure or delight to the senses or to the mind; aesthetically pleasing or attractive.
Synonyms: lovely, attractive, pretty, handsome, comely, pleasing, graceful, elegant, stunning, gorgeous
Antonyms: ugly, unattractive, plain, unsightly, hideous, repulsive
Adverb
Beautifully
In a way that is aesthetically pleasing or attractive; with grace, skill, or excellence.
Synonyms: gracefully, elegantly, skillfully, artfully, excellently, splendidly, magnificently
Antonyms: poorly, badly, clumsily, inelegantly, ineptly, awkwardly
Examples of Use
Books:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, January 1813) - While not explicitly using "beauty," the novel extensively explores societal perceptions of beauty and its role in marriage and social standing.
"I may not have been a beauty queen, but I always found a certain strength in my plainness, a kind of quiet resilience." (Attributed to Michelle Obama's Becoming, November 2018) - Here, "beauty queen" refers to a title for a person judged to have the greatest beauty in a competition.
Newspapers:
"The enduring beauty of the Great Barrier Reef is under threat from climate change, scientists warn." (The Guardian, October 2024)
"Local artist's new exhibition captures the raw beauty of the urban landscape." (Daily Nation, March 2025)
Online Publications:
"10 Natural Ways to Enhance Your Skin's Beauty." (Healthline.com, November 2024)
"The Hidden Beauty of Everyday Physics." (Scientific American, January 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "American Beauty" (DreamWorks Pictures, September 1999) - The title directly uses the word, exploring themes of suburban life, desire, and the perception of beauty.
Music: "A Whole New World" from Disney's Aladdin (Walt Disney Records, November 1992) - Lyrics like "A dazzling place I never knew / But when I'm way up here, it's crystal clear / That now I'm in a whole new world with you" evoke a sense of wonder and beauty.
Television: Reality shows like "America's Next Top Model" (UPN/The CW, May 2003 - December 2018) focus on contestants vying to embody conventional standards of beauty in the fashion industry.
Video Games: "Ori and the Blind Forest" (Moon Studios, March 2015) is widely lauded for its stunning hand-painted art style and environmental beauty.
General Public Discourse:
"Did you see that sunset tonight? Absolute beauty!" (Common informal remark)
"The architect really captured the natural beauty of the surroundings in their design." (Conversation about architecture)
"She has a quiet beauty about her, more than just her looks." (Describing someone's inner qualities)
"We need to preserve the beauty of our national parks for future generations." (Public appeal or discussion about conservation)
10 Quotes Using Beauty
"A thing of beauty is a joy for ever." (John Keats, Endymion, 1818)
"The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul." (Audrey Hepburn)
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." (John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn, 1819)
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." (Margaret Wolfe Hungerford, Molly Bawn, 1878)
"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beauty hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge you never walk alone." (Sam Levenson, often attributed to Audrey Hepburn)
"Beauty without expression is a bore." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series, 1841)
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." (Albert Einstein, often quoted as related to the beauty of the universe)
"Beauty is about enhancing what you have. Let yourself shine through." (Janelle Monáe)
"Beauty is not caused. It is." (Emily Dickinson)
"I'm going to make everything around me beautiful - that will be my life." (Elsie de Wolfe)
Etymology
The word "beauty" has a lovely journey through languages! It comes from the Old French word "beauté" (pronounced something like "boh-tay"), which popped up around the 12th century.
"Beauté" itself came from a Latin word, "bellitatem" (pronounced "bell-ee-tah-tem"), which meant "the state of being pleasing to the senses." This Latin word was built from "bellus," meaning "beautiful," "pretty," or "charming."
So, the very first meaning of "beauty" in English, when it first appeared in the Middle English period (around 1150-1500, with early records from before 1350), was about physical attractiveness or qualities that were pleasing to the senses. It also sometimes included ideas of "goodness" or "courtesy" in those early days. It essentially replaced an older Old English word, "fæġernes," which is where our modern word "fairness" comes from.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Beauty
Beauty is only skin deep: Meaning that physical attractiveness is superficial and not as important as inner character.
Beauty sleep: Refers to sleep needed to maintain a fresh and attractive appearance.
The beauty of it is...: Used to highlight a particularly good or advantageous aspect of a situation.
Sleeping Beauty: The title of a classic fairy tale about a princess put under a spell.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever: A quote suggesting that something beautiful provides lasting pleasure.
To behold the beauty of...: To admire or gaze upon something lovely.
The beauty contest: A competition in which people are judged on their physical attractiveness.
Beauties and the Beast: A play on the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," often used humorously to describe a group with contrasting appearances.
No spring chicken, but still a beauty: An informal phrase acknowledging someone is no longer young but still attractive.
The beast within the beauty: Referring to a hidden, perhaps less pleasant, side of someone or something that appears outwardly appealing.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of beauty from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
