romantic

1 of 2

adjective

ro·​man·​tic rō-ˈman-tik How to pronounce romantic (audio)
rə-
1
: consisting of or resembling a romance
2
: having no basis in fact : imaginary
3
: impractical in conception or plan : visionary
a romantic dream about becoming a star
4
a
: marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized
I began to fear that piloting was not quite so romantic as I had imagined it was; there was something very … work-like about this new phase of it.Mark Twain
b
often Romantic : 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
5
a
: having an inclination for romance : responsive to the appeal of what is idealized, heroic, or adventurous
… most people are romantic at 20, owing to lack of experience.E. M. Forster
b
: of, relating to, or involving love between two people
had romantic feelings
c
: marked by expressions of love or affection
a romantic song
d
: conducive to or suitable for romance
a romantic dinner/sunset
6
: of, relating to, or constituting the part of the hero especially in a light comedy
played the romantic lead
romantically adverb

romantic

2 of 2

noun

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

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Daisy Jones & the Six chronicles the rise and fall of a group fronted by two charismatic lead singers—Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne—and their journey from obscurity to fame, complete with romantic tensions, personal crises, and drug problems. Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025 The cover is a coy reference to the R&B star’s disenchantment with traditional romantic relationships and prioritization of financial and material gain in her dealings with men, an accusation levied upon Anna Nicole Smith regarding her own love life. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
Pic takes place in 1970s Detroit, where a working-class romantic is framed by a ruthless gangster after falling for his girlfriend. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025 Throughout the 1970s, as much as Nicholson’s rebels or Beatty’s hopeless romantics, Keaton’s optimistic dreamers repeatedly collided with the realities of the times, measuring the distance between what the counterculture thought was possible and what the world would actually allow. Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for romantic

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French romantique, from obsolete romant romance, from Old French romanz

First Known Use

Adjective

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of romantic was in 1650

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Romantic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/romantic. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

romantic

1 of 2 noun
ro·​man·​tic rō-ˈmant-ik How to pronounce romantic (audio)
: a romantic person
especially : a romantic writer, composer, or artist

romantic

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of, relating to, or resembling a romance
romantic writing
2
3
: impractical
a romantic scheme
4
a
: stressing or appealing to the emotions or imagination
a romantic spot
b
often capitalized : of or relating to romanticism
5
: of, relating to, or associated with love
romantically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

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