From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishnicenice /naɪs/ ●●● S1 W2 adjective 1 goodNICE pleasant, attractive, or enjoyable They’ve got a very nice house. Did you have a nice time? It’s such a nice day (=good weather), why not go for a swim? What a nice surprise!look/taste/smell nice You look nice in that suit. Mm, something smells nice!nice big/new/long etc a nice long holiday a nice new carnice and warm/clean/easy/quiet etc The house seemed nice and tidy. One of the nice things about Christmas is having all the family together.► see thesaurus at good2 friendlyNICE friendly, kind, or polite Dave’s a really nice guy. That’s not a very nice thing to say about your sister!nice about Tim spilt wine all over the sofa, but Martha was very nice about it.nice to They were very nice to me while I was ill.it is nice of somebody (to do something) It was nice of you to help. He told me, in the nicest possible way, that I was interfering too much.► see thesaurus at friendly, kind3 something you want used to say what you like or what you think would be good or useful It’s quite nice to live so close to work.it is nice to do something It would be nice to have a break.that’d be nice (=used to accept an offer or agree with a suggestion) ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ ‘Yes, that’d be nice.’ I thought it would be a nice idea to send them some flowers. It would be nice if you could let us know in advance.SPOKEN PHRASES4 → it’s nice to know (that)5 → have a nice day!6 → nice to meet you7 → (it’s been) nice meeting/talking to you8 not nice British English used in a humorous or angry way when you really think that something or someone is not at all good or pleasant That’s a nice way to treat a friend, I must say! Well, we’re in a nice mess now.9 → nice try10 → nice one!11 → be (as) nice as pie12 → nice work if you can get it13 detail formalDETAIL involving a very small difference or detail a nice point of law14 respectable old-fashionedCLASS IN SOCIETY having high standards of moral and social behaviour What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this? 15 → nice ... shame about the ...16 → make nice (with/to somebody) —niceness noun [uncountable] The first thing you noticed about him was his niceness. → no more Mr Nice Guy! at guy(5)GRAMMAR: Order of adjectives• If there is more than one adjective, the adjectives are usually used in a fixed order.You say: There are some nice old houses. ✗Don’t say: There are some old nice houses.You say: I had a nice long sleep. ✗Don’t say: I had a long nice sleep.• You can use nice and followed by another adjective after be: The weather was nice and warm.• Before a noun you must leave out and: a nice warm bath ✗Don’t say: a nice and warm bathTHESAURUSpersonnice especially spoken friendly, kind, or polite. In written and formal English, it is better to use a more specific and interesting adjective than niceI like Clare – she’s really nice.It was nice of them to offer to help.pleasant friendly, polite, and easy to talk to – used especially about someone that you do not know very wellI only met her once or twice but she seemed pleasant.sweet very kind and gentleKylie’s a very caring, sweet person.It was sweet of you to send me a card.charming behaving in a polite and friendly way, which makes people like you and want to do things for youThe salesman was very charming.a charming hostessengaging interesting or amusing in a way that makes people like you – a rather formal wordShe can be very engaging.an engaging smilelikeable easy to like and seeming nice and friendlyBobby was a likeable kid with an angelic face.good-natured having a nice kind character and not getting angry easilyEveryone likes Mike because he’s always so good-natured.great informal used about someone who you like and admire a lotHe’s a great guy!Sue’s boyfriend is really great.lovely especially British English informal very nice, kind, and friendlyAll the people I met on the course were lovely.a lovely mandescribing something you like or enjoynice especially spoken pleasant or enjoyableDid you have a nice day?It was nice to be back home again.lovely especially British English informal very niceWe had a lovely time at the beach.The hotel was lovely.fun informal if something is fun, you enjoy itThe holiday was great fun.enjoyable giving you pleasureWe had a very enjoyable evening. wonderful very enjoyableIt was a wonderful concert.The food was wonderful.great (also brilliant British English) informal very enjoyable‘How was the party?’ ‘It was great!’We all had a brilliant time.charming used about something that seems pleasant and has a lot of qualities that make you like ita charming little village in the Italian countrysideI thought the restaurant was rather charming.delightful formal very pleasant or enjoyableThere are many delightful walks in the area.a delightful eveningpleasurable formal a pleasurable experience or feeling is one that you enjoyShopping in the old city can be a pleasurable experience. a pleasurable feeling of relief
Examples from the Corpus
nice• "Let's take a picnic lunch with us." "Yeah, that'd be nice."• He came and helped me lay it all in which was very nice.• No, it's not nice.• There's this one with candles on the table in these little glass bowls, and it all looks cosy and nice.• Feel this material. It's so nice and soft.• Maybe Henry would realize she was not as nice as she pretended to be.• Moza was making nice, asking about dinner.• I've got a nice boss, and the pay's good.• Have a nice day.• "She offered to pay for everything." "That was a nice gesture."• I want a nice hot shower.• Claire's really nice, isn't she?• I cleaned up the house as best I could, and hired a couple of nice ladies to handle the heavy lifting.• I got a nice long letter from Andreas this morning.• It was nice of them to invite us.• It's the kind of place nice people don't go to.• He's one of the nicest people I know.• He had a lot of nice things to say about you.• Did you have a nice time?• All Brad's friends were very nice to me, but I was too shy to join in their chat.• I sometimes think she's only nice to me when she wants something.• It's so nice to see you again.• Come over on Saturday. It would be nice to see you.• It would be nice to think that it was a very prosperous affair.• I hope you have a nice vacation.• Morning, Bill. Nice weather, isn't it?nice time• He wanted to stay; he was having a nice time.• It was not a nice time.• He said he hoped we were having a nice time and could we leave the keys with Mrs Stewart please.• Had quite a nice time, I gather.in the nicest possible way• Ladies in Burberry raincoats can be intimidating in the nicest possible way.it is nice to do something• Having uncovered so much that is praiseworthy so far it is nice to be able to carry on and commend the sound.• In our celebrity-obsessed society, it is nice to see some one keeping things in proportion.nice girl• Alison had shown enough respectable horror on discovering that he was married to prove she was a nice girl.• Ivy Williams, a shopkeeper's daughter, twenty years old, was a very nice girl.• She was a nice girl, but she was involved in gangs.• Some nice girls do, some nice girls don't.• He needed some nice girl of Anthony's age to prove his point.• There are some nice girls out there, but I don't know what she was called.• She seems like a nice girl, you know.NiceNice /niːs/ a city on the Mediterranean coast of France, famous as a fashionable place for tourists to stay, and also a port and industrial areaOrigin nice (1200-1300) Old French “stupid”, from Latin nescius “lacking knowledge”, from nescire “not to know” 