A loving relationship or a quality of excitement, beauty, and imaginative appeal.
Reach for it when describing affectionate love or an idealized sense of adventure with context
Their quiet romance grew through years of shared train journeys.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
Fits when excitement and possibility are foregrounded
Careful Adventure may involve no romance.
everyday
love affair
Fits when an intimate relationship is central
Careful Affair can imply secrecy or infidelity.
warm
Fits when gentle caring matters
Careful Affection is less specifically romantic.
warm
love story
Fits when the relationship is presented as narrative
Careful A story may be fictional.
formal
courtship
Fits when a relationship is moving toward commitment
Careful Courtship is a particular stage.
literary
Fits when a place or era has imaginative attraction
Careful Allure is not a relationship.
literary
Fits when intense desire dominates
Careful Passion can lack tenderness.
summer romance
A summer romance became a lifelong partnership.
sense of romance
Lanterns gave the courtyard a sense of romance.
blossoming romance
Their blossoming romance surprised neither family.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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