sentimentally
gb/sˈɛntɪməntəli/ us/sˈɛntɪməntəli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in an overly emotional way
In a way that shows strong, soft feelings (sometimes too much).
Usage pattern:
[someone] speak/talk/act/look [sentimentally]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use it when they mean sensitively (carefully and thoughtfully) rather than emotionally.
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.)
Collocations
smile sentimentally
|look sentimentally at
|speak sentimentally
|talk sentimentally about
|write sentimentally
|remember sentimentally
|sentimentally portrayed
|sentimentally romantic
|sentimentally describe
|sentimentally reunite
Themes
emotions
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- He spoke sentimentally about his childhood summers by the sea.
- The film ends with the couple reuniting and smiling sentimentally at each other.
- She laughed, then wiped her eyes and admitted she was feeling sentimentally tired.
Learner examples
- She talked sentimentally about her old friends.
- He smiled sentimentally when he saw the photo.
adverb
C1
property
2
for emotional rather than practical reasons
Because something has special feelings or memories for you.
Usage pattern:
[someone] keep/hold on to/choose [something] [sentimentally]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse it where simply emotionally is more natural (e.g., 'I felt sentimentally' → 'I felt emotional').
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.)
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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.)
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
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|possessions
|memory
Examples
- I kept my first suitcase sentimentally, even though it was falling apart.
- She chose her grandmother’s ring sentimentally, not because it was the most expensive.
- They didn’t need the house, but they held onto it sentimentally.
Learner examples
- He kept the old watch sentimentally.
- She chose the photo album sentimentally.
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.
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.