romanticize

IPA/rəʊˈmæntɪsaɪz/
KK[romˈæntəsˌaɪz]IPA/rəʊˈmæntɪsaɪz/

romanticize — verb

  • romanticizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • romanticizeshe / she / it
  • romanticizedpast simple
  • romanticizing-ing form

1. to think of or describe past events, places, or situations as being much better,

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to think of or describe past events, places, or situations as being much better, more exciting, or more attractive than they actually were — for example, remembering a childhood home as perfect, or describing a difficult trip as a grand adventure.

例句

Many older people romanticize their school days, forgetting the stress of exams and homework.

romanticize + object (school days / the past)

Salma's travel blog romanticized life on a Greek island, but residents there worked hard for supplies.

contrast between idealized view and reality

同義詞
  • idealize

    broader term; can apply to any perfection of a person or thing, not just the past

  • glamorize

    more superficial, about making something seem exciting or fashionable rather than deeply better

  • glorify

    stronger; suggests praising something as worthy of honour, often with moral weight

反義詞
  • debunk

    to expose the truth behind an idealized belief

文法句型

romanticize + noun phrase (the past, childhood, history)

stop + romanticizing (intransitive, often in warnings)

用法筆記

Object is typically a time period, place, relationship, or experience from the past. The verb often appears in critical or cautionary contexts that contrast a rosy view with reality.

常見錯誤

She romanticizes about her childhood.
She romanticizes her childhood.
💡'romanticize' is normally transitive and does not take the preposition 'about'.
The director romanticized the war by adding love scenes.
The director romanticized the war, making it seem noble and exciting.
💡'romanticize' means to present something as better than it really was, not just to add romantic story elements.