Meaning & use

nostalgic

adjective·Academic

Feeling a sentimental longing for the past, especially a happy time or place.

See it in a sentence

Old photographs always make her feel nostalgic for her childhood summers.

The reunion turned into a nostalgic evening of old songs and stories.

A note on using this word

"Nostalgic" is usually followed by "for" or "about," and it always implies a warm, bittersweet longing rather than plain sadness.

Words with a similar meaning

sentimentalwistfulreminiscent

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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