Lavish
/ˈlævɪʃ/
adjectiveverbB2
Definition
Lavish describes something that is very rich, full, or large, often in a way that seems more than necessary. It can talk about things like money, gifts, parties, or decorations that are very fancy or expensive. When used as a verb, lavish means to give a lot of something freely or generously, sometimes more than is needed.
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See It in Action
Very rich, large, or fancy (adjective)
- •They had a lavish wedding with hundreds of guests.
- •The hotel room was decorated in a lavish style with silk curtains and gold lamps.
- •She wore a lavish dress covered with jewels.
To give or spend a lot of something, often more than needed (verb)
- •He lavished praise on his team for their hard work.
- •They lavished gifts on their children at Christmas.
- •She lavished attention on the new puppy, playing with it all day.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "lavish" like "big" or "nice," but MUCH bigger and fancier—like a huge birthday cake, not just a small one
- ✓Picture a room full of gold decorations, expensive flowers, and delicious food everywhere
- ✓It feels like the happiness you get when someone gives you many presents or throws a very special party just for you
- ✓Sounds like "LAV-ish" → imagine a "love" that is so big it covers everything around it in gifts and kindness
- ✓Think of a king or queen holding a lavish feast with lots of food and music, showing power and care
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "small" — lavish means very large or rich, not plain or basic
- ✓NOT like "careful" spending — lavish often means spending without worry about saving or limits
- ✓NOT like "saving" or "holding back" — lavish is about giving or using a lot, sometimes too much
Try Other Words
- •Extravagant: very fancy or expensive, often more than necessary (Use when the focus is on spending too much or being wasteful)
- •Luxurious: very comfortable and expensive (Use when talking about comfort and richness, like a luxurious hotel)
- •Rich: full of valuable things or qualities (Use when focusing on the quality or amount of something)
- •Generous: giving a lot or freely (Use when focusing on kindness or sharing)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root word "lavish")
- •Etymology: From Old French "lavasse" meaning a flood or heavy rain, related to washing or pouring out
- •Historical development: Originally related to pouring or washing out freely, later used to mean giving or spending a lot freely
- •Modern usage: Used to describe very large or rich things or to describe giving or spending a lot in a free, generous way
Reflect & Connect
•How can something be lavish but still feel meaningful rather than wasteful?
•When is it good to be lavish, and when might it be better to be simple or careful?
Fill in the blanks
1.The party was lavish because they spent ___ on decorations and food to impress the guests.
2.When she lavished ___ on her friends, everyone felt very happy and appreciated.
3.A lavish gift is different from a simple one because it usually costs ___ or shows more care.
4.People often say a wedding is lavish when it has many guests and ___ details.
5.He lavished praise on the artist, meaning he gave ___ compliments than usual.
6.Lavish spending can sometimes be seen as ___, especially if money is limited.
7.The room looked lavish with silk curtains and gold lamps, which made it feel very ___ and expensive.