svelte

adjective

\ ˈsvelt

, ˈsfelt\

svelter; sveltest

Definition of svelte

1a : slender, lithe

b : having clean lines : sleek

2 : urbane, suave

Other Words from svelte Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about svelte

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Did You Know?

Svelte came to us, by way of French, from Italian svelto, which itself comes from the Italian verb svellere, meaning "to pluck out" or "to pull or stretch out." In English svelte has been used since the early 19th century to describe a slender appearance, as in A.B. Granville's 1838 description of a countess who was "tall, svelte, pale, and interesting." By the 20th century, English speakers had stretched the word's meaning to suggest an urbane or suave nature—as poet Ezra Pound did when he described "svelte Verona," a city he visited in north Italy.

Examples of svelte in a Sentence

She has a svelte figure. the svelte dancer seemed to float across the stage

Recent Examples on the Web

Having an easily detachable hand vacuum is a nice plus, as is a svelte design that'll tuck away discreetly. — Julianne Ross, CNN Underscored, "Cordless vacuums are stronger than ever — shop the best picks for your budget," 29 July 2019 And there’s also the guy who credits his Fitbit for helping him slim his 40-inch waist to a svelte 34 inches. — Bruce Horovitz, BostonGlobe.com, "Fitness trackers are good for your health, but that 10,000-step goal is overblown," 28 July 2019 Jazz point guard Mike Conley mixes and matches athleisure, old-school pieces and simple basics to create a suave street style look that always highlights his svelte physique. — Jamie Lisanti, SI.com, "Fashionable 50," 18 July 2019 There is Annabelle, an Arabian mini-horse procured from Oregon for her svelte lineage. — azcentral, "A red-brick ranch in Glendale is more than a home. Take a look inside the pet sanctuary and urban farm," 20 June 2019 One began as a passion project and turned into a svelte, goofy and surprisingly slick little action game. — Todd Martens, latimes.com, "E3 2019: Will Microsoft's ‘Minecraft Earth’ take augmented reality beyond ‘Pokémon Go’?," 12 June 2019 After all, there’s still a tremendous lack of body diversity in Hollywood, where a svelte body is still seen as the ideal figure, so anything deviating from that standard is inherently groundbreaking. — Teen Vogue, "From B.A.P.S. to Shrill: How Black Plus-Size Women Have Shaped the Romantic Comedy Genre," 10 May 2019 As a curvy woman in the spotlight, Jordyn is all too familiar with the societal pressures that are placed on women to fit an unrealistic beauty standard — namely, a svelte body that’s completely flaw-free. — Shammara Lawrence, Teen Vogue, "Jordyn Woods on Body Positivity, Mental Health, and SECNDNTURE," 31 Dec. 2018 On the red carpet, Jolie showed off her svelte frame in a pearl gray silk chiffon Atelier Versace dress with intricate draping detail. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Angelina Jolie and Four of Her Children Attend the Premiere of Disney's Dumbo," 12 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'svelte.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for svelte

svelte

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of svelte

: thin in an attractive or graceful way

See the full definition for svelte in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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svelte

Definition of svelte

Other Words from svelte

Synonyms & Antonyms for svelte

Did You Know?

Examples of svelte in a Sentence

First Known Use of svelte

History and Etymology for svelte

English Language Learners Definition of svelte

svelte

Definition of svelte

Other Words from svelte

Synonyms & Antonyms for svelte

Did You Know?

Examples of svelte in a Sentence

First Known Use of svelte

History and Etymology for svelte

English Language Learners Definition of svelte

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