savor

American  

[sey-ver] / ˈseɪ vər /

especially British, savour

noun

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

   Synonyms:

   fragrance, scent, odor, smack, relish

2. a particular taste or smell.

3. distinctive quality or property.

4. power to excite or interest.

5. Archaic. repute.

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verb (used without object)

1. to have savor, taste, or odor.

2. to exhibit the peculiar characteristics; smack (often followed byof ).

   His business practices savor of greed.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a savor to; season; flavor.

2. to perceive by taste or smell, especially with relish.

   to savor the garden's odors.

3. to give oneself to the enjoyment of.

   to savor the best in life.

Spelling

See -or ¹.

Related Words

See taste.

Other Word Forms

• outsavor verb (used with object)
• savorer noun
• savoringly adverb
• savorless adjective
• savorous adjective
• unsavored adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Or if you didn’t win, there was still plenty to savor Sunday night, including buffet stations bursting with sliders, spring rolls and short rib bao buns.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

The teams could wind up facing each other again in the regional playoffs, but this night was Robinson’s to savor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 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

It’s impossible to say whether and for how long this cheerful trend will continue, but for now let’s savor the double treat of better-than-expected prosperity and a humbling of the highly credentialed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

“Wash it down with Arbor gold and savor every bite. I know I shall.”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Related Words

• appreciate
• luxuriate in
• relish
• revel in
• sip
• smell
• taste