1 romantic | Definition of romantic

romantic

adjective
ro·​man·​tic | \ rƍ-ˈman-tik How to pronounce romantic (audio) , rə-\

Definition of romantic

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : consisting of or resembling a romance
2 : having no basis in fact : imaginary
3 : impractical in conception or plan : visionary
4a : marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized
b often capitalized : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of romanticism
c : of or relating to music of the 19th century characterized by an emphasis on subjective emotional qualities and freedom of form also : of or relating to a composer of this music
5a : having an inclination for romance : responsive to the appeal of what is idealized, heroic, or adventurous
b : marked by expressions of love or affection
c : conducive to or suitable for lovemaking
6 : of, relating to, or constituting the part of the hero especially in a light comedy

romantic

noun

Definition of romantic (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a romantic person, trait, or component
2 capitalized : a romantic writer, artist, or composer

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Other Words from romantic

Adjective

romantically \ rƍ-​ˈman-​ti-​k(ə-​)lē How to pronounce romantically (audio) , rə-​ \ adverb

Examples of romantic in a Sentence

Adjective

She had romantic feelings for him. He had a romantic relationship with a coworker. His brother was having romantic troubles at the time. She won't discuss her romantic life with the press. Why can't you be more romantic? He has some romantic notions about life on a farm. She had a lot of big romantic dreams of becoming an actress. Beethoven was the first great Romantic composer.

Noun

She married a real romantic who brings her roses every day. Law school is no place for idealists and romantics. Beethoven was the first great Romantic among composers.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Byrne resigned suddenly as CEO of Overstock last Thursday, after mounting controversy surrounding his past romantic relationship with alleged Russian agent Maria Butina. David Z. Morris, Fortune, "A Spy in the House of Byrne—The Ledger," 26 Aug. 2019 Patel and Chang own an outpatient drug-treatment clinic together in Middletown and had been in a romantic relationship for over five years at the time of the robbery, according to court documents. Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati.com, "Mason man involved in $1 million jewel heist sentenced to nearly 3 years in prison," 21 Aug. 2019 British authorities ruined two of his romantic relationships in a row, director Anthony Wonke shows, by getting in touch with Emwazi’s fiancĂ©s to alert them of his associations with extremists. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Jihadi John, Domestic Terrorist," 6 Aug. 2019 The Judicial Inquiry Commission on Tuesday filed a complaint against Coffee County District Judge Christopher Kaminski, alleging ethics violations involving a romantic relationship with an attorney who practices in his court. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al.com, "Judge resigns after complaint about romance with attorney in his court," 17 July 2019 Univision began complaining to Televisa about the slow pace of romantic stories, the use of the same actors and rural settings (sprawling haciendas) at a time when most U.S. Latinos live in cities. Meg James, latimes.com, "Univision owners want to sell. After 12 years and $13 billion, what went wrong?," 15 July 2019 A few years later, the first public reports of Ms. Maxwell’s romantic relationship with Mr. Epstein surfaced in tabloids. Rebecca Davis O’brien, WSJ, "Following Epstein’s Arrest, Spotlight Shifts to Financier’s Longtime Associate," 11 July 2019 The romantic comedy tells the story of Joris, a Dutch teen who moves back to his hometown and meets Yad, a Syrian medical student who works for Joris’ grandmother. Susan Dunne, courant.com, "Dutch LGBT romantic comedy ‘Just Friends’ at Cinestudio," 8 July 2019 The children and family movies genre can mean a lot of things, from cartoons, to romantic stories that work for the whole family to animals’ antics. Rachel E. Greenspan, Time, "These Are the Netflix Codes You Can Use to Take a Shortcut Straight to the Shows and Movies You Actually Want to Watch," 3 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Fall shows abounded in variety, with a broad range of options to suit the goth and the poetry lover, sartorialists and hopeless romantics. Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "10 Styling Tips from the Fall Runways to Try Now," 19 Mar. 2019 This sentiment fits perfectly with his eclectic, electric vision of clothing for gender-bending romantics who live in plissĂ© lamĂ©s and beaded cardigans with stories embedded in their very fabric. Alexander Fury; Fashion Editor: Joanna Hillman, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Art of Beauty," 6 May 2019 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's love story was especially rom-com-y and captivated the hearts and imaginations of hopeless romantics all over the world. Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Harry and Meghan's Love Story Has Something Very Sweet in Common With Will and Kate's," 19 Aug. 2018 Below, the best Valentine's Day songs ever—throwbacks included—for all the hopeless romantics out there. Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "The Valentine's Day Songs That Will Give You All the Feels," 9 Jan. 2019 That near-mythical place where idealists, romantics, and wanderers wash up, drifting in and dropping out, a sense of it glimpsed in Palermo, Antananarivo, Brazzaville. Horatio Clare, CondĂ© Nast Traveler, "Why You Should Go to Belize Now," 21 Dec. 2018 As reported by Harper’s Bazaar, royal romantics at heart will be able to watch the next set of royals walk down the aisle as TLC will be the only network to broadcast the wedding in the United States. Katelyn Chef, Teen Vogue, "Princess Eugenie’s Royal Wedding: Everything We Know So Far," 5 Oct. 2018 Leo Venus Leo governs the heart, and fittingly, those born under the Leo Venus sky are true romantics. Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "What the Position of Venus in Your Birth Chart Means for You," 31 July 2018 To use a phrase of Burton Rascoe’s — his hurt romantics are still seeking that other side of paradise. New York Times, "Notes From the Book Review Archives," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'romantic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of romantic

Adjective

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for romantic

Adjective

French romantique, from obsolete romant romance, from Old French