romantic
/rəʊˈmæn.tɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [romˈæntɪk] /roʊˈmæn.t̬ɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [romˈæntɪk] /rō-ˈman-tik rə-/ (ame, mw)
romantic — adjective
- romanticpositive
- more romanticcomparative
- most romanticsuperlative
1. connected with love, sexual attraction, or the feelings that exist between two p
connected with love, sexual attraction, or the feelings that exist between two people who are in a close relationship.
Haruto planned a romantic dinner for his girlfriend's birthday.
romantic + dinner: typical noun collocation
The couple watched a romantic film on their first date.
Pedro planned a romantic proposal under the moonlight, and Renata said yes.
Ryan surprised his partner with a romantic weekend at a coastal hotel.
文法句型
romantic + noun
用法筆記
This is the most common meaning. It describes things connected with love between couples — dates, gifts, gestures, or settings. Distinguish from sense 4 (Romantic with capital R, referring to the art movement).
常見錯誤
2. describing a place, scene, or experience that feels beautiful and emotionally st
describing a place, scene, or experience that feels beautiful and emotionally stirring, as if from a storybook or distant era.
The old castle had a romantic atmosphere that drew tourists from all over.
romantic + atmosphere: describing a place
Reema dreamed of a romantic trip through the mountains of Peru.
The narrow streets of the ancient city looked romantic in the evening light.
Romi found the misty Scottish highlands deeply romantic and wild.
- picturesque
focuses on visual beauty only, without the emotional or mysterious quality
- enchanting
suggests a magical, almost fairy-tale quality
文法句型
romantic + noun (place/view/setting)
用法筆記
This sense applies to scenery, places, or experiences — not to people or love directly. A 'romantic sunset' means a beautiful, emotionally moving sunset, not necessarily a love-related one. Common with travel and tourism contexts.
3. holding or expressing ideas, plans, or expectations that are not based on practi
holding or expressing ideas, plans, or expectations that are not based on practical reality and are therefore unlikely to succeed.
Mira had a romantic idea of becoming a famous writer without doing any work.
romantic + idea: unrealistically optimistic plan
Dario's romantic plan to build a house by hand was completely impractical.
Don't be so romantic — starting a successful business takes years of effort.
Rania held a romantic belief that moving abroad would solve all her problems.
- idealistic
focuses on high principles and perfect visions, not necessarily negative
- unrealistic
more direct and negative, with less emotional warmth
- dreamy
informal; suggests pleasant but impractical thinking
文法句型
romantic (about + noun/gerund)
用法筆記
Often used critically. When you call someone's idea or plan 'romantic', you suggest it is naive or ignores practical difficulties. Subject is often a plan, idea, view, or vision.
常見錯誤
4. relating to a European cultural movement of the late 1700s and early 1800s that
relating to a European cultural movement of the late 1700s and early 1800s that prized emotion, personal imagination, and wild landscapes over reason, order, and classical traditions.
The museum has an excellent collection of Romantic paintings from the 1800s.
capital R: refers to the historical movement
Devika is writing a research paper on Romantic poetry for her literature class.
Beethoven's music is often described as belonging to the Romantic period.
Anong prefers Romantic composers like Chopin and Schumann over Baroque ones.
- Romanticist
directly names the movement rather than describing it
- 19th-century artistic
describes the period but is broader
- classical
refers to the earlier movement that Romanticism reacted against
- neoclassical
emphasised order and reason, opposite to Romantic ideals
文法句型
the Romantic + noun (period/poetry/painters)
用法筆記
Often capitalised when referring directly to the historical movement (Romantic poetry, Romantic period). Not capitalised when the reference is looser. Distinguish from sense 1: the Romantic movement is about art and ideas, not love.
常見錯誤
romantic — noun
- romanticsingular
- romanticsplural
1. a person who focuses on emotions, ideals, and dreams of a perfect world rather t
a person who focuses on emotions, ideals, and dreams of a perfect world rather than on practical concerns or everyday reality.
Andrew is a true romantic who believes that love can conquer any problem.
a true romantic: common fixed phrase
Tara is too much of a romantic to survive in a corporate office.
The old professor was a romantic at heart, always chasing new ideas.
David is such a romantic that he still writes letters by hand.
- realist
someone who sees things as they are
- pragmatist
someone focused on practical results
文法句型
a romantic
a romantic at heart
用法筆記
The noun form (sense 1) connects strongly to adjective sense 3 (UNREALISTIC & IDEALISTIC). It is usually positive or gently critical — suggesting someone has a warm but impractical nature. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which refers to a follower of a specific artistic movement.
常見錯誤
2. an artist, writer, or musician whose work belongs to the European movement aroun
an artist, writer, or musician whose work belongs to the European movement around 1800 that celebrated emotion, imagination, and nature, or anyone today who embraces those artistic ideals.
The exhibition features works by the great Romantics of the 19th century.
the + plural Romantics: referring to the group
Yasmin's research focuses on how the Romantics viewed nature as a teacher.
The early Romantics rejected the strict rules of classical painting.
Dewi wrote her thesis on how the Romantics portrayed ordinary people.
- Romanticist
a more formal academic term for the same idea
- Romantic Movement artist
more explicit about the historical context
- classicist
someone who follows classical rather than Romantic ideals
文法句型
the Romantics
a Romantic
用法筆記
Usually capitalised (Romantic). Often used in the plural to refer to the group of artists who belonged to the movement. Singular use ('a Romantic') is rarer and typically found in academic writing. This is a specialist term not used in everyday conversation.