grandeur
gb/ɡɹændˈʊɹ/ us/ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
C1
English
~ 5200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
property
1
impressive and large-scale beauty
A very big and beautiful quality that makes something look important and amazing.
Usage pattern:
the grandeur of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "grandeur" for very small or everyday things (e.g., "the grandeur of my phone"). It is usually used for things that are large, impressive, or important, such as buildings, mountains, or big ceremonies. Another mistake is using it like an adjective (*"a grandeur house"*); the correct form is "a grand house" or "a house with grandeur".
Synonyms
splendor (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and a bit less formal than "grandeur".)
|
majesty (Suggests a noble, almost royal kind of grandeur, especially for mountains, nature, or royalty.)
Antonyms
plainness (Emphasizes a simple, ordinary appearance with no impressive or striking quality.)
Collocations
natural grandeur
|architectural grandeur
|the grandeur of [something]
|sense of grandeur
|faded grandeur
|lost its grandeur
Themes
art
|nature
|travel
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the snow-covered mountains.
- The palace still retains much of its original grandeur despite the damage.
- Nothing prepares you for the sheer grandeur of the cathedral's interior.
- The hotel lobby was designed to create a feeling of old-world grandeur.
- From the balcony we watched the river in all its grandeur as the sun set.
Learner examples
- Tourists come here to see the natural grandeur of the canyon.
- The old theater has lost its former grandeur.
- They built the museum with great grandeur and style.
- Everyone was silent when they saw the grandeur of the castle.
- Photos cannot show the full grandeur of this place.
unknown
formal
C2
property
2
moral or social greatness and dignity
A very high and noble quality in a person, plan, or idea that makes it seem great and important.
Usage pattern:
the grandeur of [an idea / a leader / a vision]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is only about physical beauty. In this sense, "grandeur" can describe non-physical things such as ideas, speeches, plans, or a person's character. It is usually used in formal writing or serious speech, not in everyday casual talk.
Synonyms
nobility (Focuses more on high moral character, not on size or appearance.)
|
greatness (More general and common; lacks the formal, elevated tone of "grandeur.")
Antonyms
pettiness (Suggests a small, mean, or narrow way of thinking, the opposite of moral or intellectual grandeur.)
Collocations
moral grandeur
|intellectual grandeur
|the grandeur of his vision
|the grandeur of the occasion
|grandeur of spirit
Themes
society
|values
|politics
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many were moved by the moral grandeur of her decision to forgive her enemies.
- The film tries to capture the political grandeur of the early civil rights movement.
- Despite his fame, there was no grandeur in his manner; he remained genuinely modest.
- Historians still debate the true grandeur of his vision for a united Europe.
- The speech lacked the grandeur expected on such a historic occasion.
Learner examples
- People admired the grandeur of her character.
- The grandeur of his plan surprised everyone.
- There was a special grandeur to the ceremony.
- They talked about the moral grandeur of helping others.
- The book shows the grandeur and the limits of his ideas.
Noun
C1
state
3
exaggerated sense of own importance
A very strong and unrealistic belief that you are more important, powerful, or talented than you really are, usually heard in the phrase "delusions of grandeur."
Usage pattern:
[someone] has delusions of grandeur
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "delusions of grandeur" is positive because "grandeur" is usually positive. In this fixed phrase it is negative or worrying, describing beliefs that are not realistic. Also, some learners say *"delusions of grander"* (spelled like "grander"); the correct form is "grandeur."
Synonyms
grandiosity (A technical psychological term; more common in clinical or academic contexts than in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
humility (Emphasizes a modest view of one’s own importance, the opposite of exaggerated self-importance.)
Collocations
delusions of grandeur
|psychotic delusions of grandeur
|almost comic grandeur
|a kind of childish grandeur
Themes
psychology
|health
|emotions
Examples
- The character is driven by delusions of grandeur, convinced he will rule the world.
- Her talk of buying a private island struck everyone as a sign of sheer grandeur detached from reality.
- In severe cases of the illness, patients may develop grandeur about their status or abilities.
- His sense of grandeur made it impossible for him to accept any criticism.
- The therapist gently challenged the grandeur at the center of his fantasy life.
Learner examples
- Some people with the illness have delusions of grandeur.
- His jokes about becoming king showed a bit of grandeur.
- The doctor said her grandeur was a symptom of the problem.
- Delusions of grandeur can make a person think they are famous or very powerful.
- The movie hero has clear delusions of grandeur.
Grammar
Dictionary form
grandeur
IPA
GB/ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
US/ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
Syllables & stress
grandeur (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: grandeur
- Plural: grandeur
Word family
Core family
grand
adjective B1
grandly
adverb
Related words
grandness
noun
grandiose
adjective
Advanced or less common
grandiosity
noun
aggrandize
verb
aggrandizement
noun
Expressions
delusions of grandeur
1/dɪlˈuʒənz əv ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
idiom
unrealistic belief in own greatness
To believe you are much more important, powerful, or talented than you really are, in a way that is clearly not realistic.
Examples
- The detective dismisses the suspect’s threats as nothing more than delusions of grandeur.
- His friends joked that his plan to become president next year was a sign of delusions of grandeur.
- Doctors noted that the patient showed classic delusions of grandeur, claiming to control world events.
faded grandeur
1/fˈeɪdɪd ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
fixed phrase
former grandeur that has declined
Used to describe a place, building, or way of life that was once very grand and impressive but is now old, worn, or less important.
Examples
- The hotel has an air of faded grandeur, with peeling paint and old chandeliers.
- Walking through the town’s empty main street, you can still feel its faded grandeur.
- The movie is set in a house of faded grandeur, where a rich family now struggles with debt.
in all its grandeur
1/ˈɪn ˈɔl ˈɪts ɡɹændˈʊɹ/
fixed phrase
literary
showing full impressive beauty
Used to say that something is seen or shown completely, with all of its big and beautiful quality.
Examples
- From the lookout point we could finally see the valley in all its grandeur.
- The restored hall revealed the building in all its grandeur for the first time in decades.
- At sunrise the city appears in all its grandeur, glowing with golden light.