romantic
connected with love and affection
Describes something that shows or creates strong feelings of love between two people.
a romantic [relationship/meal/evening/partner]
- They booked a small hotel by the sea for a romantic weekend together.
- He surprised her with a romantic dinner and candles on their anniversary.
- The movie is about two strangers who meet on a train and start a romantic relationship.
- She wishes her boyfriend were more romantic and wrote her love letters.
- The city looks especially romantic at night when all the lights are on.
- We had a romantic dinner in a quiet restaurant.
- They went on a romantic trip to Paris.
- He is very romantic and often brings his wife flowers.
- She wants a romantic relationship, not just a friendship.
- The music in this film is very soft and romantic.
having a love-focused nature
Describes a person who believes a lot in love and likes to show love in a special way.
[someone] is (very) romantic
- Although he looks serious, he's actually very romantic and writes poetry for his wife.
- She's such a romantic that she still believes in love at first sight.
- You’re more romantic than you think; you always remember our special dates.
- He pretends not to care, but deep down he’s a hopelessly romantic person.
- My grandmother is incredibly romantic and loves old love stories.
- My sister is very romantic and loves love stories.
- He is not romantic; he never does anything special for his girlfriend.
- I am a romantic person, and I like to say 'I love you' often.
- She wants to marry a romantic man.
- Inside, he is romantic, but he is shy.
idealistic and not practical
Describes thoughts or plans that are beautiful but not realistic or practical.
a romantic [view/idea/notion] of [something]
- He has a romantic view of poverty and ignores how hard life really is for many people.
- The book presents a romantic vision of war that leaves out the suffering.
- Some critics say her ideas about politics are too romantic and not practical.
- Thinking you can change the whole system alone is a bit romantic.
- The film gives a romantic picture of country life that feels very unrealistic.
- He has a romantic idea of life in the country, but it is actually hard work.
- The movie shows a romantic image of war, not the real pain.
- Her plan to save the world is romantic but not possible.
- Some people have a romantic view of the past.
- His speech was romantic and not very practical.
person who strongly believes in love
A person who believes a lot in true love and likes romantic things.
[someone] is (a) [adjective] romantic
- I'm a romantic and still believe in love that lasts forever.
- He calls himself a practical man, but his letters show he’s a real romantic.
- She’s a hopeless romantic who cries at every wedding she attends.
- Despite his tough image, he is a romantic at heart.
- Only a true romantic would plan a proposal on a snowy mountain at sunrise.
- My friend is a romantic and loves love songs.
- She is a romantic at heart and dreams about a big wedding.
- He says he is not a romantic, but he often buys his wife flowers.
- I am a romantic; I believe in love forever.
- Her boyfriend is a real romantic.
relating to Romanticism in art
Talking about the Romantic style in old European books, art, and music, from about 1780–1850, which uses strong feelings and imagination.
Romantic [poetry/music/period/movement/composer]
- She is writing her thesis on English Romantic poetry, focusing on Wordsworth and Coleridge.
- Beethoven is often described as a bridge between the Classical and Romantic periods in music.
- The museum is hosting an exhibition of Romantic landscape paintings.
- The course covers Romantic literature as well as Victorian novels.
- His latest book examines the political ideas behind German Romantic philosophy.
- We studied Romantic poetry in my literature class.
- Chopin is a famous Romantic composer.
- The Romantic period in Europe began in the late 1700s.
- I like Romantic music because it is very emotional.
- She gave a lecture on Romantic art last week.
artist or writer of Romanticism
A writer, artist, or thinker from the old Romantic period in Europe.
a [nationality] Romantic; the Romantics
- Shelley and Keats are often regarded as the great second-generation Romantics.
- As a Romantic, he believed that nature was a source of deep truth.
- The exhibition compares early Romantics with later realist painters.
- Many Romantics rejected strict rules in favor of personal expression.
- The French Romantics played a key role in redefining the modern novel.
- Wordsworth is an important English Romantic.
- In class we learned that Romantics loved nature and strong feelings.
- The Romantics changed the way people wrote poetry.
- He studies how the Romantics thought about freedom.
- Many Romantics were also political thinkers.
- Base: romantic
- Base: romantic
- Plural: romantics
old-fashioned romantic
1person who believes in traditional romance
Someone who likes and believes in traditional romantic things, like flowers, letters, and long-term marriage.
- He’s an old-fashioned romantic who still writes love letters by hand.
- She describes herself as an old-fashioned romantic who believes in marriage for life.
- Despite his modern job, he’s an old-fashioned romantic at home.
romantic comedy
1love-story comedy film or show
A funny movie or TV show that is mainly about a love story.
- She loves romantic comedies and watches them every weekend.
- The film is a romantic comedy about two chefs who fall in love.
- Romantic comedies are often popular on Valentine’s Day.
romantic dinner
1special dinner for a couple
A special evening meal that is made to feel private and full of love for two people.
- They had a romantic dinner by candlelight.
- He cooked a romantic dinner at home for their anniversary.
- The hotel offers a romantic dinner package for couples.
romantic evening
1loving evening spent together
An evening that two people in love spend together in a special and loving way.
- They planned a romantic evening with music and wine.
- Our romantic evening was ruined by a sudden storm.
- A walk on the beach at sunset can be a very romantic evening.
romantic gesture
1action that shows romantic love
Something special that you do to show your love to another person.
- Buying flowers for no reason can be a romantic gesture.
- He made a big romantic gesture by writing her a song.
- Small romantic gestures are important in a long relationship.
romantic getaway
1short love-focused trip for a couple
A short holiday that two people in a relationship take to spend special time together.
- They went on a romantic getaway to the mountains.
- The island is a popular romantic getaway for newlyweds.
- For their anniversary, they booked a romantic getaway in a spa hotel.
romantic getaway
1trip for a couple
a short romantic trip for two people
- They booked a romantic getaway for their anniversary.
- The hotel offers packages for a romantic getaway.
- A quiet beach makes an ideal romantic getaway.
romantic hero
1idealized male lover character
A main male character in a story who is shown as an ideal or very attractive lover.
- The novel’s romantic hero is a dark, mysterious figure.
- He became famous for playing romantic heroes in period dramas.
- Many readers were disappointed that the romantic hero dies at the end.
romantic interest
1person someone is romantically attracted to
A person that someone likes in a romantic way.
- In the film, she has more than one romantic interest.
- He is her main romantic interest in the series.
- The story follows two friends who slowly become romantic interests for each other.
romantic lead
1main character in the love story
The main actor or character in a film or play who is in the main love story.
- She plays the romantic lead opposite a famous actor.
- This is his first time as a romantic lead in a big movie.
- Casting the right romantic lead is important for the success of the film.
romantic love
1strong love between partners
Love that includes strong feelings, attraction, and usually sexual desire between two people.
- The book explores the difference between romantic love and friendship.
- Many people believe romantic love is necessary for a happy marriage.
- The movie shows how romantic love can change over time.
romantic partner
1person you are romantically with
The person you are in a romantic relationship with, such as a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.
- Guests may bring one romantic partner to the company party.
- The survey asked people whether they lived with a romantic partner.
- She introduced her romantic partner to her parents last weekend.
romantic relationship
1love-based relationship between partners
A relationship between two people who love each other and are more than just friends.
- They’ve had a romantic relationship for over five years.
- She doesn’t want a romantic relationship with him; she just wants to be friends.
- Office rules say that employees must report any romantic relationship with a manager.
true romantic
1person who deeply believes in romance
A person who really believes in romantic love and likes romantic actions.
- He’s a true romantic who plans every date carefully.
- Only a true romantic would write a poem every week.
- She’s a true romantic and loves old love movies.
hopeless romantic
1Unrealistically idealistic about love
Someone who believes in perfect love, even if it is not realistic.
- He’s a hopeless romantic who still writes love letters.
- She calls herself a hopeless romantic, always dreaming about fairy-tale weddings.
hopeless romantic
2person who always believes in ideal love
Someone who always believes in perfect love, even if they have many problems in relationships.
- She’s a hopeless romantic who still dreams of a fairy-tale wedding.
- Even after two divorces, he remains a hopeless romantic.
- My friends call me a hopeless romantic because I never give up on love.