Hearty
adj.joyful, energeticwarm
Meaning 1
Openly warm, enthusiastic, and full of goodwill.
Reach for it when describing a welcome, laugh, or response with generous energy
A hearty welcome met every runner at the village gate.
Choose between these
2- warm
friendly affection matters more than volume or energy
not when Warm can be quiet and subtle, whereas hearty is openly vigorous.
- professional
strong positive interest is the main quality
not when Enthusiastic lacks the generous human welcome suggested by hearty.
Meaning 2
Strong, vigorous, and in sound condition.
Reach for it when praising robust health or energetic participation
The eighty-year-old gardener remained hearty and active.
Choose between these
3- professional
reliable strength and function should sound objective
not when Robust may describe a system or flavor without implying health.
- formal
active physical energy is plainly visible
not when Vigorous can be forceful without the wholesome solidity of hearty.
- literary
especially an older person appears healthy and strong
not when Hale is traditional and applies poorly to temporary bursts of energy.
Meaning 3
Substantial, nourishing, and satisfying.
Reach for it when describing food that comfortably fills and sustains
The café serves a hearty bean stew after the winter walk.
Choose between these
3- everyday
filling
a meal satisfies hunger for a long time
not when Filling says nothing about nourishment, flavor, or generous preparation.
- warm
the meal provides valuable sustenance
not when A light dish may be nourishing without being hearty.
- professional
substantial
portion size and material content are notable
not when Substantial is neutral and misses the comforting appeal of hearty food.
Said against
3- cool
- frail
- meager
It naturally appears in
3- hearty welcome
The exchange students received a hearty welcome at the station.
- hale and hearty
Their oldest ewe remained hale and hearty through another winter.
- hearty breakfast
A hearty breakfast prepared the volunteers for the long cleanup.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English adjective sense 1: warmly enthusiastic opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Wiktionary, English adjective sense 2: healthy and strong opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Wiktionary, English adjective sense 3: abundant and satisfying as food opens in a new tab for meaning 3 · 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.