ardour
gb/ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/ us/ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
state
1
strong enthusiasm or eagerness
very strong interest and excitement about something.
Usage pattern:
ardour (for [something])
Common mistake:
Often confused with "ardor/ardour" spelling: "ardour" is more common in British English; "ardor" in American English.
Synonyms
enthusiasm (more neutral and common.)
|
fervour (similarly strong but often linked to beliefs or causes.)
|
zeal (suggests energetic commitment, sometimes excessive.)
Antonyms
apathy (a lack of interest or feeling.)
|
indifference (not caring one way or the other.)
Collocations
great ardour
|youthful ardour
|political ardour
|religious ardour
|artistic ardour
|ardour for learning
|ardour for the job
|pursue [something] with ardour
|speak with ardour
|renewed ardour
Themes
emotions
|motivation
|work
|education
|politics
Examples
- She spoke with ardour about improving public schools.
- His ardour for the project faded when the funding was cut.
- The team threw themselves into training with renewed ardour.
Learner examples
- He showed ardour for music.
- She worked with ardour.
Noun
literary
C2
state
2
romantic or sexual passion
strong romantic or sexual feelings.
Usage pattern:
(someone's) ardour (for [someone])
Common mistake:
In this sense it is often used in literary writing; in everyday speech, people more often say "passion" or "desire."
Synonyms
desire (broader; can be romantic, sexual, or general wanting.)
|
passion (common and not necessarily literary.)
|
lust (more explicitly sexual and can sound negative.)
Antonyms
coldness (lack of warmth or affection.)
|
disinterest (lack of attraction or desire.)
Collocations
romantic ardour
|sexual ardour
|burning ardour
|awaken ardour
|stir ardour
|ardour for her
|his ardour cooled
|unrequited ardour
|mutual ardour
|express ardour
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|sex_and_romance
Examples
- Their letters were full of youthful ardour.
- Time had cooled the ardour he once felt for her.
- The novel traces the rise and fall of his romantic ardour.
Learner examples
- The story describes romantic ardour.
Noun
archaic
C2
property
3
intense heat or burning warmth
very strong heat (old-fashioned).
Usage pattern:
the ardour of [the sun/summer]
Common mistake:
This meaning is rare in modern English; use "heat" in everyday writing.
Synonyms
heat (the normal modern word.)
|
fierceness (emphasizes harsh intensity rather than temperature alone.)
Antonyms
coolness (opposite in temperature.)
|
cold (much lower temperature.)
Collocations
the ardour of the sun
|summer's ardour
|the ardour of midday
|scorching ardour
|the ardour of the desert
Themes
weather
|nature
|literature
Examples
- They rested in the shade to escape the ardour of the sun.
- In the poem, the fields shimmer under the ardour of midsummer.
- The travellers struggled through the desert's ardour.
Grammar
Expressions
cool someone's ardour
1/kˈul sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
idiom
reduce someone's enthusiasm
to make someone less excited about something.
Examples
- The extra paperwork cooled his ardour for volunteering.
- A few bad reviews cooled the public's ardour for the film.
- The manager tried not to cool her team's ardour with too many rules.
political ardour
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
strong political enthusiasm
strong excitement about politics.
Examples
- The candidate's speeches sparked political ardour among young voters.
- Their political ardour waned after the scandal.
- Political ardour can be powerful, but it can also divide communities.
quench someone's ardour
1/kwˈɛnt͡ʃ sˈʌmwˌʌnz ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
idiom
literary
kill someone's enthusiasm
to make someone not excited anymore.
Examples
- One harsh comment was enough to quench his ardour for the plan.
- They tried to quench her ardour with warnings about the risks.
- The endless delays quenched public ardour for the project.
religious ardour
1/ɹɪlˈɪd͡ʒəs ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
strong religious enthusiasm
very strong religious feeling.
Examples
- The movement drew strength from religious ardour.
- Religious ardour spread quickly through the community.
- Some leaders worried that religious ardour might lead to conflict.
romantic ardour
1/ɹoʊmˈæntɪk ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
literary
romantic or sexual passion
strong romantic feelings.
Examples
- The memoir describes her first experience of romantic ardour.
- Their romantic ardour did not survive the long separation.
- The film hints at romantic ardour without showing anything explicit.
with ardour
1/wˈɪθ ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
in an enthusiastic way
very enthusiastically.
Examples
- She argued with ardour for better access to healthcare.
- He pursued the subject with ardour and curiosity.
- They greeted the news with ardour.
youthful ardour
1/jˈuθfəl ˈɑɹdˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
enthusiasm typical of youth
strong excitement and energy when you are young.
Examples
- With youthful ardour, he believed he could change the world.
- Her youthful ardour for the theatre never completely disappeared.
- They looked back on their youthful ardour with affection.