ardor

American  

[ahr-der] / ˈɑr dər /

especially British, ardour

noun

1. great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion.

   She spoke persuasively and with ardor.

   Synonyms:

   intensity, earnestness, spirit, fervency

2. intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal.

   his well-known ardor for Chinese art.

3. burning heat.

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Etymology

Origin of ardor

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, equivalent to ārd ( ēre ) to burn + -or -or ¹; replacing Middle English ardure < Old French ardur < Latin, as above; 17th century ardour < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Explanation

Are you inspired to write love poems to your crush? Sprinkle rose petals in her path? Then you're feeling ardor — an intense kind of warmth and fervor most often associated with love. The Brits spell ardor with an extra vowel, so you'll often see this word written as ardour. But on either side of the pond it's a noun that brings to mind Pepe Le Pew and his fervent pursuit of the female species. But ardor isn't always about love. It's perfectly platonic to be "an ardent supporter" of a certain cause, or show eagerness and ardor in your approach to anything.

Example Sentences

But even if you don’t win a gift at the fair, there will be other free offerings including complimentary Dippin’ Dots ice cream and samples from West Hollywood Edition’s signature restaurant, Ardor.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 14, 2025

“Two for Christine,” says my girlfriend before we’re led to our table at Ardor, the West Hollywood Edition’s lobby restaurant.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 21, 2022

The fairies — Ardor, Hibernia, Autumnus, Feral and Tantrum — are a gorgeously ragtag lot, headed by the slightly sinister Count Lilac.

From New York Times • Jan. 2, 2013

Rather than, say, Ada or Ardor, which is that but also a sci-fi novel? 

From Scientific American • Jun. 28, 2012

Ardor rose every instant, as if that smell of powder, smoke, and steam, that thunder, those streams of fire and iron, had the property of rousing it.

From The Deluge, Vol. II. (of 2) An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. by Sienkiewicz, Henryk

Related Words

• eagerness
• earnestness
• fervor
• intensity
• passion
• warmth
• zeal