generous
adjective
gen·er·ous
ˈje-nə-rəs 
ˈjen-rə-
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
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.
a generous helping of mashed potatoes
She has a generous heart.
He has generous sympathy for unemployed workers.
Recent Examples on the Web
News Of The Week Forbes released its annual list of America’s most generous philanthropists this month, and the lifetime giving of the nation’s top 25 philanthropists through December 30, 2024 rose to $241 billion–$30 billion more than last year’s total.
—Maggie McGrath, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
The benefits of shopping for Shark tools at Nordstrom include a generous return policy and access to steep discounts during the retailer’s Anniversary Sale.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025
A lot of that is thanks to an incredible trusting relationship with our DP, Michelle, and our first AD, Matt, who both were so generous in their collaboration on the job.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Jude’s sympathies are as generous as his arguments are damning, and the friction created between those forces has sparked some of the only recent comedies that feel as complex and absurd as real life has become.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for generous
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.
Cite this Entry
“Generous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generous. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Kids Definition
generous
adjective
gen·er·ous
ˈjen-(ə-)rəs
generously
adverb
generousness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share