Nostalgic
nɒˈstældʒɪk
Definitions
Experiencing or characterized by feelings of nostalgia; longing for the past.
nɒˈstældʒɪk
Feeling or expressing nostalgia.
I felt nostalgic listening to the music from my childhood.
💡 Simply: Like when you see an old photo and feel a warm, fuzzy feeling, remembering good times from a long time ago! Imagine a time capsule you open, and the things inside remind you of happy memories.
👶 For kids: Feeling happy and a little sad when you remember good things from the past.
More Examples
The old photographs brought back nostalgic memories.
The movie's setting evoked a nostalgic mood.
How It's Used
"He felt nostalgic when he saw his old high school yearbook."
"The movie had a nostalgic quality, reminding viewers of a simpler time."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Nostalgia for...
Expressing a longing for something related to the past.
"She had nostalgia for her childhood home."
a wave of nostalgia
A sudden strong feeling of nostalgia.
"The old song brought on a wave of nostalgia."
From Greek *nostos* (return home) + *algos* (pain), coined in 1688 by Johannes Hofer to describe the psychological effects of homesickness.
The term was initially used in the medical field to describe severe homesickness, and it evolved to encompass a broader range of feelings.
Memory tip
Imagine a *nostos* (return home) *algia* (pain). It's the pain of missing home, or anything from the past.
Word Origin
"The pain of returning home (or missing home)"