romance
gb/ɹoʊmˈæns/ us/ɹoʊmˈæns/
A2
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
relation
1
A close loving relationship
A close and loving relationship between two people.
Usage pattern:
to have a romance with [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'romance' with 'romantic', using the noun form when an adjective is needed.
Synonyms
love affair (Often implies secrecy or an extramarital relationship, while 'romance' can be broader.)
Antonyms
breakup (Refers to the end of a romantic relationship, the opposite outcome of a romance.)
Collocations
have a romance
|summer romance
|office romance
|romance blossomed
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- They met during college and their romance lasted for years.
- The movie tells the story of a wartime romance.
- A summer romance can be exciting but short-lived.
- She wrote a novel based on her own romance.
- Their office romance was the talk of the company.
Learner examples
- They have a romance.
- The romance is new.
- I read about a romance in a book.
- He has a romance with her.
- The romance ended quickly.
Noun
B1
state
2
The feeling of romantic love
A strong feeling of love and excitement for someone.
Usage pattern:
the romance of [something/someone]
Synonyms
passion (Implies stronger physical desire, while 'romance' can be more emotional or idealized.)
Antonyms
indifference (Lack of interest or affection, opposite to romantic feelings.)
Collocations
feel the romance
|the romance faded
|bring back the romance
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He missed the romance they once shared.
- Paris is famous for its romance.
- They tried to bring back the romance in their marriage.
- The candlelight added to the romance of the evening.
Learner examples
- I like the romance in this movie.
- The city has romance.
- They want to keep the romance alive.
- The romance is gone now.
Noun
A2
entity
3
A story about love
A story in a book or movie about love between people.
Usage pattern:
to read a romance
Synonyms
love story (More general term for any narrative about love; 'romance' often refers to a genre.)
Antonyms
tragedy (A story with a sad or disastrous ending, opposite to most romances.)
Collocations
romance novel
|historical romance
|romance film
Themes
entertainment
|literature
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She enjoys reading historical romances.
- That film is more of a comedy than a romance.
- He decided to write a romance set in the 19th century.
Learner examples
- I read a romance last night.
- This movie is a romance.
- She likes romances.
Noun
literary
B2
property
4
Idealized adventure or beauty
An exciting and beautiful feeling in life or art that seems special or magical.
Synonyms
idealism (Focuses on perfect ideals rather than practical reality; 'romance' implies beauty and emotion as well.)
Antonyms
realism (Focuses on practical reality instead of idealized or magical qualities.)
Collocations
the romance of travel
|lost its romance
Themes
literature
|emotions
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The old castle still holds the romance of history.
- For him, the sea had lost its romance.
- She was drawn to the romance of the wild west.
Learner examples
- I like the romance of travel.
- The city has lost its romance.
- He loves the romance in old stories.
Grammar
Dictionary form
romance
IPA
GB/ɹoʊmˈæns/
US/ɹoʊmˈæns/
Syllables & stress
ro - mance (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mance)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: romance
- Plural: romances
Word family
Forms
romances
noun
Core family
romantic
adjective B1
Related words
romantically
adverb
romanticize
verb
Negative and opposite forms
unromantic
adjective
Advanced or less common
romanticism
noun
Expressions
holiday romance
1/hˈɑlɪdˌeɪ ɹoʊmˈæns/
fixed phrase
Romantic relationship on vacation
A short romantic relationship that happens while you are on holiday.
Examples
- She had a holiday romance while visiting Spain.
- Their holiday romance ended when they returned home.
office romance
1/ˈɔfɪs ɹoʊmˈæns/
fixed phrase
Romantic relationship at work
A romantic relationship between two people who work together.
Examples
- An office romance can make work complicated.
- Their office romance became public after the company party.
rekindle the romance
1/ɹikˈɪndəl ðə ɹoʊmˈæns/
fixed phrase
Bring back romantic feelings
To make romantic feelings come back in a relationship after they have gone away.
Examples
- They went on vacation to rekindle the romance in their marriage.
- A surprise date night helped rekindle the romance.
a whirlwind romance
1/ə wˈɚlwˌɪnd ɹoʊmˈæns/
idiom
A very fast love relationship
A romantic relationship that starts and develops very quickly.
Examples
- They had a whirlwind romance and got married after just two months.
- It was a whirlwind romance that surprised everyone.
a whirlwind romance
2/ə wˈɚlwˌɪnd ɹoʊmˈæns/
idiom
Very fast, intense romance
A love relationship that starts and becomes serious very quickly, in a short time.
Examples
- They had a whirlwind romance and got married after just three months.
- What started as a holiday fling turned into a whirlwind romance.
- The movie follows a whirlwind romance between two strangers in New York.