an imaginary paradise on earth, especially a remote and exotic utopia.
a faraway haven or hideaway of idyllic beauty and tranquility.
Last summer we rented a cottage on a little lake—our perfect Shangri-la.
A “Shangri-La,” by extension, is an ideal refuge from the troubles of the world.
After the fictional Tibetan land of eternal youth in the novel The Lost Horizon (1933) by James Hilton
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“When you walk into this house,” he says, “you are walking into Harlan’s brain. He loved the film ‘Lost Horizon’ and the concept of Shangri-la, a place where everything that gave you joy would exist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2024
"Ratched" was a bomb, but the psychiatric hospital where Sarah Paulson's wicked nurse worked was an interior designer's Shangri-la.
From Salon ● Oct. 8, 2023
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at Singapore's Shangri-la Dialogue security conference in June, where a handshake marked their closest interaction.
From Reuters ● Sep. 16, 2023
Beijing has also refused requests from the U.S. for a face-to-face meeting between the defense chiefs of both countries during the June 2-4 Shangri-la Dialogue security forum in Singapore.
From Washington Times ● May 31, 2023
Herbie gawked at this serene woman who traipsed so placidly about her Shangri-la.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
AHS Properties said it bought Dubai’s Shangri-La five-star hotel for $300 million, affirming its confidence in the region despite falling tourism due to the Middle East war.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026
At the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth was asked by Japan's defence minister to address concerns about US commitment.
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
Luxury hotels like the Shangri-La also reserve terraces with views of the Eiffel Tower for their clients.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
So I gave myself a budget of around $350 a day and skeptically set out to see if anyone not arriving by Lamborghini could have a good time in this tax-free Shangri-La on the Mediterranean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Enormous portraits of lost cities line the walls, with plaques revealing their names as Shangri-La, Avalon, and Shambhala.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
