# nostalgic

/nɔˈstæɫdʒɪk/ (US) · /nəstˈældʒɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nostalgic
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. longing for the past

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling happy and a bit sad when you think about things that happened in the past.

For teachers: exhibiting a sentimental or wistful yearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation.

- Seeing his old school photos made him feel nostalgic for his childhood.
- The director's latest film is a nostalgic tribute to the golden age of cinema, filled with references that only dedicated cinephiles would recognise.

### 2. a person who longs for the past

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who often thinks about and misses the past.

For teachers: a person who displays or is prone to nostalgia. Often used in political or cultural contexts to describe those who prefer traditional ways.

- The nostalgics in the group argued that the old town square was better before the modern shops arrived.
- While some critics dismissed the movement as the work of mere nostalgics, others saw it as a necessary preservation of cultural heritage.

## Examples

- I feel nostalgic when I hear songs from my childhood.
- The old photographs made her feel nostalgic for the summers she spent at her grandmother's house.
- The director's latest film is a nostalgic tribute to the golden age of cinema, capturing the aesthetic of the 1950s with meticulous detail and warmth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.