nostalgic
Americanadjective
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- nostalgically adverb
Etymology
Origin of nostalgic
Explanation
You feel nostalgic when you miss your childhood, people you know but haven't seen in a while or the things that bring you comfort, like the nostalgic memories you feel when you listen to the songs you loved when you were little. The adjective nostalgic is often used to describe someone who is homesick and wants to be back at home with family. It always involves a wistful memory of times that now seem better or simpler. A nostalgic feeling can involve home and family, but it can also involve a longing for long-gone moments. Even beloved things, such as old TV shows or athletes from a different era may provoke the feeling of nostalgia.
Vocabulary lists containing nostalgic
List 1
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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The Lightning Thief
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s familiar, nostalgic and just refined enough to justify the price point.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
But if you noticed a certain saccharine, nostalgic tone to the Artemis II coverage, it won’t last.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
There was a more positive take from the Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney, who said nostalgic fans would find the film "a warm rush of transporting pleasure".
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026
“It’ll be funny, effective, kitschy, nostalgic and change the way we use self-help for the better.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
In my flurry of nostalgic spite, I have done the Monterey Peninsula a disservice.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
