generous

adjective

1
a
: liberal in giving : openhanded
a generous benefactor
b
: marked by abundance or ample proportions
wide overhangs and generous verandas Lewis Mumford
: copious
a thin salt-and-pepper moustache interrupted by a generous nose Richard Zabel
c
: characterized by a noble or kindly spirit : magnanimous, kindly
a generous heart
2
archaic : highborn
generously adverb
generousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for generous

liberal, generous, bountiful, munificent mean giving or given freely and unstintingly.

liberal suggests openhandedness in the giver and largeness in the thing or amount given.

a teacher liberal with her praise

generous stresses warmhearted readiness to give more than size or importance of the gift.

a generous offer of help

bountiful suggests lavish, unremitting giving or providing.

children spoiled by bountiful presents

munificent suggests a scale of giving appropriate to lords or princes.

a munificent foundation grant

Examples of generous in a Sentence

The school raised the money through donations from generous alumni. He was generous with both his time and his money. She has always been very generous toward the poor. This restaurant is known for its generous portions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Donald Trump certainly was elected to the presidency based on a commitment to reduce the size of the federal government and all the reasons listed above mean that relatively generous buyouts make better sense for an administration pursuing that aim than firing folks. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025 Open, add three to five cubes or a generous handful of pebble ice, seal and shake vigorously for about three to four minutes. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Feb. 2025 The cabin feels comfortable and spacious and has a generous 57.2 cubic feet of cargo room with the rear seat folded. Doug Newcomb, PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2025 Betty was generous with her time, making bibs and quilts and volunteering at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for generous 

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French genereus, from Latin generosus, from gener-, genus

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of generous was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near generous

Cite this Entry

“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generous. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

generous

adjective
1
: free in giving or sharing
2
3
: abundant
a generous supply
generously adverb
generousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on generous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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