enjoyable

enjoyable — adjective

1. When an activity, experience, or event is enjoyable, taking part in it or watchi

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

When an activity, experience, or event is enjoyable, taking part in it or watching it brings you pleasure and happiness.

Example

The film was so enjoyable that Aiko watched it three times.

so + adjective + that-clause

The Yamada family spent an enjoyable evening eating and playing games.

collocation: enjoyable evening

Common collocations
  • highly enjoyable
  • thoroughly enjoyable
  • most enjoyable
  • very enjoyable
  • enjoyable experience
  • enjoyable evening
  • enjoyable activity
  • enjoyable meal
Synonyms
  • pleasant

    More general; can describe weather, people, or experiences; slightly more formal

  • fun

    More informal; suggests playful or active enjoyment; used mainly in spoken English

  • entertaining

    Specifically describes shows, performances, or events that hold your attention

  • lovely

    More emotional and warm; often used for social occasions or personal experiences

Antonyms
  • unpleasant

    The direct opposite; describes experiences that cause discomfort or displeasure

  • boring

    Describes something that does not interest you or makes you feel tired

Grammar Patterns

be + enjoyable

find + object + enjoyable

so + enjoyable + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently modified by intensifiers such as 'very', 'highly', 'most', and 'thoroughly'. Common in the pattern 'find something enjoyable'.

Common Mistakes

The movie was very enjoy.
The movie was very enjoyable.
'Enjoy' is a verb; 'enjoyable' is the adjective form used after linking verbs like 'be'.
I am enjoyable at the party.
I enjoyed the party.
'Enjoyable' describes the activity or event, not the person's feeling.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

"Enjoyable" is the most neutral and widely used word for describing anything that brings pleasure — from a film to a holiday. "Pleasant" is similar but slightly more formal and often describes gentle, low-key experiences (a pleasant walk, a pleasant smell). "Fun" is more informal and suggests active, playful enjoyment (a fun game, a fun party). "Entertaining" focuses on experiences that hold your attention through amusement or interest, such as a show or a conversation. "Lovely" carries a warmer, more emotional tone and is common in British English for social occasions (a lovely dinner with friends). Use "enjoyable" when you want a safe, all-purpose word; choose "fun" for casual situations and "lovely" for heartfelt compliments.

pleasant ↗fun ↗entertaining ↗lovely ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • find something enjoyable
  • make something enjoyable

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'enjoyable' was formed in English around the 1640s by adding the suffix '-able' (meaning 'able to be') to the verb 'enjoy'. The verb 'enjoy' came from Old French 'enjoier', meaning 'to give joy' or 'to rejoice', which in turn came from Latin 'gaudium' ('joy'). So at its root, 'enjoyable' literally means 'able to be filled with joy'.