Synonyms

savor

American

[sey-ver] / ˈseɪ vər /

especially British, savour

noun

the quality in a substance that affects the sense of taste or of smell.

Synonyms:

fragrance, scent, odor, smack, relish
a particular taste or smell.
distinctive quality or property.
power to excite or interest.
Archaic. repute.

verb (used without object)

to have savor, taste, or odor.
to exhibit the peculiar characteristics; smack (often followed byof ).

His business practices savor of greed.

verb (used with object)

to give a savor to; season; flavor.
to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish.

to savor the garden's odors.
to give oneself to the enjoyment of.

to savor the best in life.

Spelling

See -or ¹.

Synonym Usage

See taste.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of savor

First recorded in 1175–1225; (noun) Middle English sav(o)ur, from Old French savour, from Latin sapōrem, accusative of sapor “taste,” derivative of sapere “to taste” ( cf. sapient); (verb) Middle English sav(o)uren, from Old French savourer, from Late Latin sapōrāre, derivative of sapor

Explanation

Whether it’s a feeling of joy or a piece of pecan pie — when you savor something, you enjoy it to the fullest. When you savor something, you enjoy it so much that you want to make it last forever. With that in mind, savor carries a connotation of doing something slowly. If you savor that flourless chocolate tart, then you eat it slowly, bit by bit, deliberately picking every last crumb off the plate. The word is often applied to eating, but you can savor any pleasurable experience, whether it’s the winning touchdown or your moment in the spotlight.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing savor

Eat Your Words

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"Joyas Voladoras" by Brian Doyle

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

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.

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Asuncion to savor the moment -- only the second time Paraguay has won a World Cup game in the knockout stage.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

But there are still spots to savor the rhythms.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Researchers used a scale called Joint Savoring in Romantic Relationships, adapted from the widely used Savoring Beliefs Inventory, which assesses how individuals savor positive moments.

From Science Daily • Feb. 14, 2026

To Kelson, it’s a reminder to savor what time we still have — and this may be his final worldly act.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

But for the moment, I feel something close to elation and I let myself savor it.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023