Definition of yummy

Short definition: The word yummy means food that tastes really good and makes people feel happy when they eat it. People often use it to describe meals, snacks, or desserts that are not only delicious but also enjoyable and comforting.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word yummy? The word yummy is a friendly, informal way to talk about food that tastes really good. It often shows excitement and pleasure, especially when something is sweet, warm, fresh, or simply made with love. In everyday life, yummy is not just about flavor—it also carries emotion, like comfort, happiness, and those small joyful moments around meals and snacks. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, real-life way, with examples that sound natural instead of stiff like a textbook.

Form: yummy (adjective)
Comparative: yummier
Superlative: yummiest
Related: yum excl., yummy-looking adj.
Syllable: yum-my

1. Tasting very good, especially in a simple and friendly way.

   In its most common use, yummy describes food that brings instant pleasure. It is the word people often say without thinking too much—just a natural reaction when something tastes sweet, rich, fresh, or comforting. Because it sounds warm and playful, yummy is especially common in family conversations and when talking to children.

   The cookies Emily baked were so yummy that everyone kept asking for just one more.
   This soup is really yummy, especially on a cold evening when you just want something warm and comforting.
   He smiled after the first bite and said, “Wow, this is yummy,” making the chef feel proud of her cooking.

   Synonyms: delicious, tasty, scrumptious, yummy-tasting, mouthwatering, delightful, flavorful, appetizing, savory, sweet-tasting, really good, enjoyable
   Antonyms: yucky, tasteless, bland, awful-tasting, gross, unpleasant, disgusting, flavorless, bad-tasting, horrible, nasty, unappetizing

2. Used to show excitement or pleasure about food.

   Sometimes yummy is not just an adjective, but a little expression of happiness. People say it when they see food that looks good, even before tasting it. In this sense, the word shows emotion more than description.

   When the cake arrived at the table, the kids all shouted “Yummy!” at the same time.
   She opened the lunch box and smiled, already thinking how yummy everything looked.
   He said “Yummy” just by smelling the pizza, before even taking his first bite.

   Synonyms: delicious!, yum!, looks tasty, smells great, can’t wait to eat, so good!, amazing taste, so delicious!, tasty!, mouthwatering!, looks amazing, sounds good
   Antonyms: yuck!, gross!, looks bad, smells awful, not appetizing, disgusting!, terrible!, horrible!, no thanks, doesn’t look good, nasty!, awful

3. (Informal) Very enjoyable or pleasing, not only about food.

   In casual speech, yummy is sometimes used more broadly to describe anything that feels pleasant or satisfying. It can talk about experiences, moments, or even ideas that make you feel happy in a simple way.

   That warm bath after a long day felt really yummy, like a small gift to herself.
   He described the weekend as yummy, because everything felt relaxed and stress-free.
   The idea of sleeping in on Sunday morning sounded yummy to her.

   Synonyms: enjoyable, lovely, delightful, pleasant, satisfying, nice, cozy, comforting, fun, feel-good, pleasing, relaxing
   Antonyms: unpleasant, boring, uncomfortable, stressful, annoying, dull, tiring, frustrating, disappointing, miserable, unhappy, awful

4. A word often used with children to talk about food in a positive way.

   Yummy is very common in conversations with children, because it sounds friendly and easy to understand. Parents often use it to encourage kids to try new food or to make mealtime feel fun instead of stressful.

   “Eat your vegetables, they’re yummy,” she said, hoping her son would give them a chance.
   The teacher called snack time “yummy time,” and suddenly everyone was excited to sit down and eat.
   He showed his little sister the fruit bowl and said, “Look at all this yummy food we have today.”

   Synonyms: tasty (for kids), good food, nice food, yummy-treat, delicious snack, fun food, favorite food, sweet treat, tasty bite, nice snack, goodie, treat
   Antonyms: yucky food, bad food, nasty taste, gross snack, disliked food, unpleasant bite, awful food, no-good snack, bad-tasting food, terrible treat, nasty bite, hated food

5. A word that creates a warm, playful tone in conversation.

   Beyond meaning, yummy also affects how a sentence feels. It makes speech sound lighter, friendlier, and more relaxed. That is why people often choose it instead of more serious words like “delicious” in casual moments.

   She used the word yummy on purpose, because she wanted her message to sound cheerful and warm.
   Instead of saying the dessert was amazing, he simply said it was yummy, and everyone smiled.
   The café uses the word yummy on its menu, to make customers feel relaxed and welcome.

   Synonyms: friendly word, playful term, warm expression, casual compliment, lighthearted praise, cheerful description, fun wording, cozy expression, happy word, sweet phrase, easy-going term, relaxed compliment
   Antonyms: formal wording, serious term, cold expression, stiff language, dry description, professional tone, strict wording, serious compliment, formal praise, distant expression, rigid style, official tone