Meaning & use
hopeless romantic
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableinformal
A person who believes deeply in love and romance, often in an unrealistic or overly idealistic way.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a hopeless romantic' or 'two hopeless romantics'.
Patterns
- be a hopeless romantic
- be called a hopeless romantic
My sister is a hopeless romantic who still believes in love at first sight.
He watches old romantic movies every weekend because he's a hopeless romantic.
As a hopeless romantic, she always hoped her first date would feel like a scene from a film.
nouncountableinformal
Someone who keeps hoping for love even after repeated disappointments or failed relationships.
Grammar: Often used with 'still' or 'always' to show that the person has not given up.
Patterns
- still a hopeless romantic
- a hopeless romantic at heart
After three bad breakups, he's still a hopeless romantic.
She calls herself a hopeless romantic at heart, even though she says she's given up on dating.
Word forms
| plural | hopeless romantics |
|---|
Common combinations
- a hopeless romantic at heart
- Don't be fooled by his tough attitude; he's a hopeless romantic at heart.
- still a hopeless romantic
- She's been hurt before, but she's still a hopeless romantic.
- call someone a hopeless romantic
- My friends call me a hopeless romantic because I cry at every wedding.
- a true hopeless romantic
- He's a true hopeless romantic who writes love letters by hand.
Synonyms and how they differ
- romantic
- This is the basic word for someone who shows love or affection; 'hopeless romantic' adds the idea that their beliefs are too idealistic or not practical.
- dreamer
- A dreamer has big unrealistic hopes in general, not specifically about love; 'hopeless romantic' focuses only on love and romance.
- idealist
- An idealist believes in perfect standards in many areas of life; 'hopeless romantic' is limited to matters of the heart and is more emotional.
Opposites
Word family
- romantic adjective
- Relating to love or showing strong feelings of love.
- romance noun
- A love affair or the feeling of love and excitement.
- romantically adverb
- In a way that shows love or strong emotion.
Commonly confused: hopeless romantic or romantic?
hopeless romantic vs romantic
'Romantic' alone can simply mean someone who is loving or affectionate; 'hopeless romantic' suggests their ideas about love are unrealistic and possibly a weakness.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hopeless romantic' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 uses the noun phrase correctly as a countable noun with the article 'a'. Option 1 is missing the article 'is a' and uses the phrase like an adjective. Option 2 contradicts the meaning because a hopeless romantic loves love stories. Option 3 has wrong grammar and meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hopeless romantic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.