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Glite Dictionary
to take delight in

to take delight in

2 3.8
To enjoy doing something a lot
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : deleitarse en
  • Even the principal, after taking only two private lessons, took delight in performing for parents, students, and staff.

I certainly think that God takes delight in his creation and that it was created for that delight as much as it was for any other reason.

Examples

  • He is the sort of person who takes delight in doing things for the first time.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I just love that there are others who take the time to observe such things, take delight in them, and then share them!

    Blog text (22)

  • "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire."

    Blog text (22)

  • The boys took delight in having their artwork displayed for the rest of the staff to see.

    Academic text (2003)

  • I know he is with us today and will take delight in once again hearing this hymn that meant so much to him.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • I certainly think that God takes delight in his creation and that it was created for that delight as much as it was for any other reason.

    Lex Fridman

  • Through this coaching experience, I have grown to take delight in the one-on-one interaction with colleagues.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Mitt took delight in recalling this in the early primaries.

    Blog text (29)

  • All collectors of African art are at liberty to take delight in their objects and to want to share this enjoyment with others through the help of museums.

    Academic text (2006)

  • She takes delight in painting beautiful landscapes during her free time.

Synonyms

to enjoy
vsto take delight in
∞ 1.0

To feel happy because of something you do or see

expresses a stronger level of pleasure or satisfaction
to rejoice
vsto take delight in
93 3.6

Feel or show that you are very happy

is about finding pleasure in doing something rather than only feeling joy
to relish
vsto take delight in
70 4.4

To enjoy something very much

expresses a stronger level of pleasure or satisfaction
to delight
vsto take delight in
48 1.0

To enjoy something very much

emphasizes satisfaction from doing something
to revel
vsto take delight in
29 6.3

To enjoy something very much

focuses on deep satisfaction rather than ordinary pleasure

Antonyms

to resent
248 4.1

To feel angry and upset about something unfair

dislike
  • Texting
49 1.0

A feeling of not liking someone or something

How Much Pleasure

to revel
29 6.3
to take delight in
2 3.8
to enjoy
∞ 1.0
to like
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

take delight in infinitive
taking delight in present participle
takes delight in third person singular
took delight in past
taken delight in past participle

Morphology

take + delight + in

The meaning 'to find pleasure or satisfaction in' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'delight' = pleasure/satisfaction and 'take ... in' functions to receive or have that state. This is a regular compositional pattern (cf. 'take pleasure in') that is cross-linguistically common and therefore readily understandable to a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

Take delight in makes a simple picture: you take a little joy or delight into your hands, like picking up a bright flower to enjoy. So it means 'enjoy' or 'find pleasure in' doing something.