Synonyms

nostalgic

American

[no-stal-jik, nuh‑] / nɒˈstæl dʒɪk, nə‑ /

adjective

experiencing or exhibiting nostalgia, a sentimental or wistful yearning for the happiness felt in a former place, time, or situation.

Other Word Forms

nostalgically adverb

Etymology

Origin of nostalgic

nostalg(ia) + -ic

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.

Galsworthy did not take up these characters again until 1918 when he wrote a radiant, nostalgic short story called “Indian Summer of a Forsyte.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"Around 9 pm, I was feeling suffocated and nostalgic, so I got in the car to drive around town," a 28-year-old woman told AFP on Monday on condition that her identity be protected.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Wrangling Gellar free from her inadvertent nostalgic trappings is no simple task.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

The first single, Days We Left Behind, premiered on BBC Radio Merseyside, and finds the singer in a wistful, nostalgic mood.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Ever since Faizah had told me that Coach Mustilli had said hi, I’d been nostalgic about how simple things were in high school.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

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