charming

[chahr-ming]

adjective

1. pleasing; delightful.

   a charming child.

   Synonyms: engaging, winsome, winning, lovely

2. using charm; exercising magic power.

charming

/ ˈtʃɑːmɪŋ /

adjective

1. delightful; pleasant; attractive

Other Word Forms

• charmingly adverb
• charmingness noun
• uncharming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of charming¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; charm ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

En route to her mother’s seaside alma mater, Avery encounters Charlie, a charming local in need of a fake girlfriend fast.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to be charmed, hard to think of a movie as a delightful trifle, when you’re so conscious of how hard the filmmakers are working to make it charming.

From Salon

Patrice Pastor spent big bucks on Carmel-by-the-Sea, in part because of cherished childhood memories, vacationing with his father in this charming, if quirky, coastal town.

From Los Angeles Times

By contrast, Sylvanian Families - known as Calico Critters in the US - are marketed as "an adorable range of distinctive animal characters with charming and beautiful homes, furniture and accessories".

From BBC

They are the memories of a younger sibling admiring a charming, adventurous big brother.

From BBC

Related Words

• absorbing 
• alluring 
• amiable 
• appealing 
• attractive 
• charismatic 
• cute 
• delightful 
• elegant 
• engaging 
• engrossing 
• fascinating 
• glamorous 
• graceful 
• inviting 
• likable 
• lovable 
• lovely 
• pleasant 
• provocative