nice-looking

nice-looking — adjective

1. having a pleasant appearance that other people find attractive; used especially

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

having a pleasant appearance that other people find attractive; used especially for a person's face, body, or overall look.

Example

Aiko is a nice-looking young woman with a warm smile.

attributive: a nice-looking [noun] before a person description

A nice-looking man in a blue suit sat down at the next table.

Common collocations
  • nice-looking person / woman / man / couple
  • nice-looking face / smile
  • quite / very / really nice-looking
Synonyms
  • good-looking

    very similar meaning; 'good-looking' is slightly more common and neutral, while 'nice-looking' feels more casual and friendly.

  • attractive

    stronger in intensity; 'attractive' can also refer to personality or qualities, whereas 'nice-looking' focuses purely on appearance.

  • pretty

    used mostly for women, children, or delicate things; 'nice-looking' works for any gender.

  • handsome

    used mostly for men; 'nice-looking' is less gender-specific and less formal.

Antonyms
  • ugly

    direct opposite; far stronger and often considered rude.

  • plain

    means ordinary-looking, not especially attractive or unattractive; milder than 'ugly'.

Grammar Patterns

a nice-looking [noun]

[be] + nice-looking

Usage Note

Slightly more informal than words like 'attractive' or 'handsome'; common in everyday conversation. Can describe objects and places, but most often refers to people.

Common Mistakes

She is a nice-looking.
She is nice-looking.' or 'She is a nice-looking woman.
'nice-looking' needs a noun after it when used attributively, and cannot stand as a noun itself.
He looks nice-lookingly.
He is nice-looking.
'nice-looking' is an adjective, not an adverb; do not add -ly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a pleasing appearance, but they differ in register, gender use, and intensity. 'Nice-looking' is the most casual and friendly — it suggests someone is pleasant to look at without strong romantic or physical overtones. 'Good-looking' is the neutral, all-purpose choice and works for any age or gender. 'Attractive' is stronger and can also describe non-physical qualities such as personality or voice. 'Pretty' is predominantly used for women, children, and delicate objects, while 'handsome' is traditionally used for men with more refined or striking features. In conversation: 'Your brother is very nice-looking — has he modelled?' sounds natural and warm, whereas 'Your brother is very handsome — has he modelled?' adds a slightly more formal or admiring tone.

good-looking ↗attractive ↗pretty ↗handsome ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • quite nice-looking
  • very nice-looking
  • really nice-looking

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

A compound formed in the early 19th century from 'nice' (pleasing, agreeable, from Old French 'nice' meaning 'foolish, simple', which later shifted to 'pleasant' by the 18th century) and 'looking' (the present participle of 'look', from Old English 'lōcian'). The combination came to mean 'pleasant in appearance'.