Fab
adj.joyful, energeticplayful
What it means
Exceptionally good, attractive, or enjoyable in lively informal speech.
Reach for it when giving quick, playful approval where polish and restraint are unnecessary
The restored sign looks fab above the theater entrance.
Choose between these
6- playful
you want the full informal compliment with more flourish
not when Fabulous can sound camp or exaggerated in a sober assessment.
- everyday
British-leaning informal praise should also suggest excellence
not when Brilliant can imply intelligence when the intended compliment is purely visual.
- everyday
an experience or result deserves energetic praise
not when Fantastic covers many kinds of excellence without specifically praising style or appearance.
- everyday
the approval is specifically about attractive design
not when Stylish says nothing about whether an event was enjoyable or successful.
- warm
enthusiastic approval should still sound familiar across generations
not when Terrific feels dated to some audiences and may overpower a modest success.
- literary
fashionable elegance is the exact quality being admired
not when Chic is too narrow for a fun experience or a technically strong result.
Said against
4- awful
- drab
- mediocre
- disappointing
It naturally appears in
3- looks fab
The new mural looks fab in the afternoon sun.
- absolutely fab
The final costume was absolutely fab under the stage lights.
- fab idea
A fab idea turned the empty lot into a weekend garden.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective informal sense: fabulous or very good opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.