Romance — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /rō-ˈman(t)s/ ro·mance

Meaning & Definition of Romance

Romance (noun)

  1. love affair; also, a feeling of being in love
  2. a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural
  3. a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious
  4. a short instrumental piece in ballad style

Romance (verb)

  1. to exaggerate or invent detail or incident
  2. to entertain romantic thoughts or ideas
  3. to try to influence or curry favor with especially by lavishing personal attention, gifts, or flattery

Romance (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or being any of the languages developed from Latin (such as Italian, French, and Spanish)

Romance (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a brief romantic relationship

    "an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides"

    similar: affair, amour, fling, love, love affair
    related: intrigue, liaison, dalliance, hanky-panky, attachment, infatuation, entanglement, flirtation, idyll, passion, calf-love, puppy love

Romance (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in spark, attend

    similar: attend, gallant, spark, woo, court, date, escort, see, take out, go out, step out

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Romance

The most common words with a similar meaning to Romance:

affair, amour, fling, love, love affair, attend, gallant, spark, woo, court, date, escort, see, take out, go out, step out

Related Words for Romance

intrigue, liaison, dalliance, hanky-panky, attachment, infatuation, entanglement, flirtation, idyll, passion, calf-love, puppy love

Word Forms of Romance

Inflections: romanced, romancing

Origin & Etymology of Romance

Middle English romauns, from Anglo-French romanz French, narrative in French, from Medieval Latin Romanice in a vernacular (as opposed to Latin), from Late Latin Romanus Gallo-Romance speaker (as opposed to a Frank), from Latin, Roman

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Romance

Words & Phrases Containing Romance

Romance language, Gallo-Romance, Ibero-Romance, Italo-Romance, Rhaeto-Romance, workplace romance

Frequently Asked Questions about Romance

What does "Romance" mean?

"Romance" means love affair; also, a feeling of being in love. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: love affair; also, a feeling of being in love. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Romance"?

Other words for "Romance" include affair, amour, fling, love, love affair, attend, gallant and spark. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Romance" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Romance"?

There are 28 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Romance". Common alternatives include affair, amour, fling, love, love affair, attend, gallant, spark, woo and court.

How do you use "Romance" in a sentence?

Examples of "Romance" in a sentence: "an office romance that ended with hurt feelings on both sides".

Is "Romance" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Romance" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Romance" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Romance" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Romance"?

"Romance" is pronounced /rō-ˈman(t)s/ and divided into syllables as ro·mance.

What is the origin of the word "Romance"?

"Romance" comes from Middle English romauns, from Anglo-French romanz French, narrative in French, from Medieval Latin Romanice in a vernacular (as opposed to Latin), from Late Latin Romanus Gallo-Romance speaker (as opposed to a Frank), from Latin, Roman. First known use: 14th century.