sentimentally
gb/sˈɛntɪməntəli/ us/sˈɛntɪməntəli/
B2
English
érzelmesen, érzelgősen, érzelmi okokból
B2
1
érzelmesen
B1
érzelgősen
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] speak/talk/act/look [sentimentally]
He spoke sentimentally about his childhood summers by the sea.
Érzelmesen beszélt a tengerparton töltött gyerekkori nyarairól.
The film ends with the couple reuniting and smiling sentimentally at each other.
A film azzal ér véget, hogy a pár újra egymásra talál, és érzelmesen mosolyognak egymásra.
She laughed, then wiped her eyes and admitted she was feeling sentimentally tired.
Learner examples
She talked sentimentally about her old friends.
Érzelmesen beszélt a régi barátairól.
He smiled sentimentally when he saw the photo.
Érzelmesen elmosolyodott, amikor meglátta a fényképet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it when they mean sensitively (carefully and thoughtfully) rather than emotionally.
Meaning
in an overly emotional way
Collocations
smile sentimentally
|look sentimentally at
|speak sentimentally
|talk sentimentally about
|write sentimentally
|remember sentimentally
|sentimentally portrayed
|sentimentally romantic
|sentimentally describe
|sentimentally reunite
Synonyms
emotionally (More neutral; does not always suggest excess.)
|
mawkishly (Stronger; clearly suggests the emotion is excessive or overly sweet.)
|
tenderly (Focuses on gentleness, not necessarily on being overdone.)
Antonyms
objectively (Based on facts rather than feelings.)
|
unsentimentally (Without tender or nostalgic emotion.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|relationships
Definition
In a way that shows strong, soft feelings (sometimes too much).
In a way that expresses tender feelings, sometimes in a way that seems too emotional or affected.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] keep/hold on to/choose [something] [sentimentally]
I kept my first suitcase sentimentally, even though it was falling apart.
Érzelmi okokból megtartottam az első bőröndömet, pedig már szétesőben volt.
She chose her grandmother’s ring sentimentally, not because it was the most expensive.
Érzelmi okokból a nagymamája gyűrűjét választotta, nem azért, mert az volt a legdrágább.
They didn’t need the house, but they held onto it sentimentally.
Learner examples
He kept the old watch sentimentally.
Érzelmi okokból megtartotta a régi órát.
She chose the photo album sentimentally.
Érzelmi okokból a fényképalbumot választotta.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it where simply emotionally is more natural (e.g., 'I felt sentimentally' → 'I felt emotional').
Meaning
for emotional rather than practical reasons
Collocations
keep it sentimentally
|hold onto it sentimentally
|value it sentimentally
|cling to it sentimentally
|choose it sentimentally
|be attached sentimentally
|sentimentally significant
|sentimentally important
|sentimentally valuable
|sentimentally motivated
Synonyms
nostalgically (Highlights longing for the past, not just emotional value.)
|
for old times' sake (An idiomatic alternative; often about doing something to remember the past.)
|
emotionally (Broader; does not specifically imply personal memories or sentimental value.)
Antonyms
practically (Based on usefulness rather than feelings.)
|
rationally (Based on reason rather than emotional attachment.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|possessions
|memory
Definition
Because something has special feelings or memories for you.
Because of personal feelings or memories, rather than because something is useful, valuable, or necessary.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sentimentally
IPA
GB/sˈɛntɪməntəli/
US/sˈɛntɪməntəli/
Syllables & stress
sen - ti - ment - ally (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sentimentally
- Plural: sentimentallies
Expressions
sentimentally attached (to)
1/sˈɛntɪməntəli ətˈæt͡ʃt tə/
fixed phrase
emotionally attached to something
To have strong feelings for something because it is special to you.
Examples
- She’s sentimentally attached to the apartment where her children grew up.
- I’m sentimentally attached to that mug—it was a gift from my best friend.
- He was sentimentally attached to the team, even after he stopped playing.
Learner examples
- I am sentimentally attached to this photo.
- She is sentimentally attached to her old books.
sentimentally speaking
1/sˈɛntɪməntəli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
from an emotional viewpoint
Used to say what you feel emotionally about something.
Examples
- Sentimentally speaking, I’d hate to sell the car, but it’s the sensible choice.
- Sentimentally speaking, the trip mattered more than the photos we took.
- Sentimentally speaking, this is the hardest part of leaving.
Learner examples
- Sentimentally speaking, I want to keep it.