splendour
gb/splˈɛndaʊɹ/ us/splˈɛndaʊɹ/
B2
English
~ 25300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
property
1
very impressive beauty or grandeur
very great and beautiful appearance that makes you feel respect or wonder.
Usage pattern:
the splendour of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "splendour" in very casual speech where simpler words like "beauty" or "great" are more natural. "Splendour" sounds more formal or poetic than everyday words like "nice" or "pretty". It is also a noun, so forms like *"it is very splendour"* are wrong; say "it is full of splendour" or "its splendour is amazing".
Synonyms
magnificence (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and often used in written descriptions.)
|
grandeur (Emphasizes size and impressiveness more than beauty alone.)
|
glory (Can include moral admiration or success, not only visual beauty.)
Antonyms
ugliness (Direct opposite, stressing something visually unpleasant.)
|
plainness (Lack of special beauty or decorative detail.)
Collocations
the splendour of nature
|in all its splendour
|natural splendour
|architectural splendour
|royal splendour
|lost its splendour
Themes
art
|nature
|travel
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We stood in silence, moved by the splendour of the snow-covered mountains.
- The palace has been restored to its original splendour after years of careful work.
- Tourists come from around the world to experience the natural splendour of the rainforest.
- The cathedral's stained-glass windows added to the overall splendour of the ceremony.
- Nothing matched the splendour of the sunset over the lake.
Learner examples
- We watched the splendour of the sunset over the sea.
- The old building still has a lot of splendour.
- People travel here to see the natural splendour of the mountains.
- The hall was full of light and splendour.
- They want to bring the garden back to its former splendour.
Noun
formal
C1
property
2
great richness and luxury
a way of life or place that is very rich, expensive, and beautiful.
Usage pattern:
live in splendour
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with simple beauty. In sentences about rich houses or royal life, "splendour" usually includes the idea of wealth and luxury, not only something that looks nice.
Synonyms
luxury (More common and general; less strongly visual than "splendour".)
|
opulence (Stresses very great wealth and often excess, sometimes with a critical tone.)
Antonyms
poverty (Opposite in terms of wealth and rich surroundings.)
|
simplicity (Opposes the idea of rich, showy living without necessarily implying lack of money.)
Collocations
live in splendour
|a life of splendour
|surrounded by splendour
|wealth and splendour
|royal splendour
|palatial splendour
Themes
lifestyle
|society
|daily_life
|finance
Examples
- They lived in quiet splendour in a huge country house staffed by servants.
- The film shows the splendour and corruption of life at the royal court.
- Guests were amazed by the splendour of the hotel lobby, with its marble floors and crystal chandeliers.
- After years of struggle, he now enjoys the splendour of a billionaire lifestyle.
Learner examples
- The king lived in great splendour.
- They moved from poverty to splendour in just ten years.
- The guests were impressed by the splendour of the palace.
- She does not like splendour and prefers a simple life.
- The hotel offers modern comfort but not great splendour.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
3
beautiful sights or features
the many beautiful and special things in a place or time that people can see and enjoy.
Usage pattern:
the splendours of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realise that "splendours" is often used in the plural for this sense, especially in phrases like "the splendours of Rome".
Synonyms
wonders (Very close in many contexts, but can include non-visual or surprising things.)
|
treasures (Suggests valuable or culturally important things, not always mainly about visual beauty.)
Antonyms
eyesores (Refers to things in a place that are very ugly to look at.)
Collocations
the splendours of Rome
|the splendours of Paris
|the splendours of the ancient world
|the artistic splendours of the Renaissance
|the city’s hidden splendours
|explore the splendours of [a place]
Themes
travel
|culture
Examples
- We spent a week discovering the ancient splendours of Rome.
- A guide took us around the hidden splendours of the old town.
- The exhibition brings together the artistic splendours of the Italian Renaissance.
- Cruises along the river let visitors enjoy the natural splendours of the valley.
- Tour companies compete to show off the cultural splendours of the region.
Learner examples
- Many people visit the city to see its splendours.
- Our guide showed us the splendours of the old castle.
- The book describes the splendours of the ancient world.
- You need more than one day to enjoy all the splendours of Paris.
- The museum shows the splendours of this country’s art.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
4
glory, fame, or great honour
great success and fame that makes people admire someone or something very much.
Usage pattern:
the splendour of [achievement / reign / empire]
Common mistake:
This sense is mainly found in written or literary English. Learners sometimes try to use "splendour" for everyday personal success, where words like "success" or "fame" are more natural.
Synonyms
glory (Very close in meaning; more common in modern English for this sense.)
|
renown (Focuses more on being widely known than on the impressive quality itself.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Suggests being unknown or unnoticed, the opposite of famous splendour.)
|
shame (Opposite in terms of honour and admiration.)
Collocations
the splendour of his achievements
|the past splendour of the empire
|the former splendour of the dynasty
|the splendour and power of the throne
|return to its former splendour
|lose its splendour
Themes
history
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Historians still write about the splendour and cruelty of the emperor's reign.
- The club is trying to regain the splendour of its glory days.
- Her victory added to the splendour of an already remarkable career.
- The city has never quite recovered the splendour it enjoyed in the nineteenth century.
- They toasted the splendour of their past successes, unaware of the troubles to come.
Learner examples
- The team wants to win back its old splendour.
- Books tell stories about the splendour of the ancient empire.
- The king lost his splendour after the war.
- The city remembers the splendour of its past.
- The film shows the splendour and fall of the family.
Grammar
Dictionary form
splendour
IPA
GB/splˈɛndaʊɹ/
US/splˈɛndaʊɹ/
Syllables & stress
splend - our (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (splend)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: splendour
- Plural: splendour, splendours
Word family
Expressions
in all its splendour
1/ˈɪn ˈɔl ˈɪts splˈɛndaʊɹ/
fixed phrase
formal
showing its full impressive beauty
used to say that something can be seen fully and clearly, looking as beautiful and grand as possible.
Examples
- At sunrise the city lay before us in all its splendour.
- The painting shows the palace in all its splendour, before it was damaged by war.
- On a clear night you can see the Milky Way in all its splendour.
the splendours of
1/ðə splˈɛndaʊɹz əv/
fixed phrase
formal
the beautiful things of a place
used to talk about all the very beautiful and special things in a place, time, or culture.
Examples
- Visitors can explore the splendours of Venice on foot or by boat.
- The documentary celebrates the splendours of the natural world.
- A new exhibition introduces viewers to the artistic splendours of ancient Egypt.