Sweets: meaning, definitions and examples

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sweets

[ swiːts ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

delicious treats

Sweets are confectionery or sugar-based treats that are often enjoyed as desserts or snacks. They come in a variety of forms, including candies, chocolates, pastries, and more. Sweets are typically known for their sweet taste and are popular among people of all ages.

Synonyms

candies, desserts, treats.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
sweets	Commonly used in British English to refer to small pieces of sugary treats, often given to children or enjoyed as a light snack. Would you like some sweets? I bought a bag of sweets for the kids.
candies	Primarily used in American English to refer to small, sugary confections. The term covers a wide range of items like chocolates, lollipops, or gummies. She gave me a handful of candies. We have a jar of candies on the kitchen counter.
desserts	Refers to the sweet course typically eaten at the end of a meal. This can include cakes, pies, ice cream, puddings, and other similar items. What's for dessert tonight? They served a delicious dessert after dinner.

Word

Description / Examples

sweets

Commonly used in British English to refer to small pieces of sugary treats, often given to children or enjoyed as a light snack.

Would you like some sweets?
I bought a bag of sweets for the kids.

candies

Primarily used in American English to refer to small, sugary confections. The term covers a wide range of items like chocolates, lollipops, or gummies.

She gave me a handful of candies.
We have a jar of candies on the kitchen counter.

desserts

Refers to the sweet course typically eaten at the end of a meal. This can include cakes, pies, ice cream, puddings, and other similar items.

What's for dessert tonight?
They served a delicious dessert after dinner.

Examples of usage

Sally has a sweet tooth and loves to indulge in sweets after dinner.
My favorite part of Halloween is collecting all the different sweets while trick-or-treating.

Translations

Translations of the word "sweets" in other languages:

🇵🇹 doces

🇮🇳 मिठाइयाँ

🇩🇪 Süßigkeiten

🇮🇩 permen

🇺🇦 солодощі

🇵🇱 słodycze

🇯🇵 お菓子 (okashi)

🇫🇷 sucreries

🇪🇸 dulces

🇹🇷 şekerlemeler

🇰🇷 과자 (gwaja)

🇸🇦 حلويات (halawiyat)

🇨🇿 sladkosti

🇸🇰 sladkosti

🇨🇳 甜食 (tiánshí)

🇸🇮 sladkarije

🇮🇸 sælgæti

🇰🇿 тәттілер (tättiler)

🇬🇪 ტკბილეული (tkbileuli)

🇦🇿 şirniyyat

🇲🇽 dulces

Etymology

The word 'sweets' originated from Old English 'swēte', which meant 'pleasing to the senses'. Over time, it evolved to refer to confectionery or sugar-based treats that are enjoyed as desserts or snacks. Sweets have been a popular indulgence in various cultures throughout history, often symbolizing celebrations or special occasions.

See also: sweet, sweetener, sweetening, sweetheart, sweetness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,605, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

...
14602 painstaking
14603 blooded
14604 causative
14605 sweets
14606 boating
14607 kidding
14608 metaphorical
...