sentimental

Everyday

1. Full of tender feelings like love, sadness or longing, especially about the past: a sentimental person is easily moved. tree →
2. Kept or valued for the memories it brings, not for money: a thing has sentimental value. tree →
3. (critical) Too soft and sugary in feeling, making you sad or happy in a way that seems overdone or not real. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it tells the reader a character is soft-hearted, missing someone or thinking of old times; in English lessons pupils learn it can be praise (warm) or criticism (soppy). Everyday phrases: «sentimental value», «get sentimental», «a sentimental song», «for sentimental reasons». In money talk an old toy may be worth little in pounds or dollars but have huge sentimental value.

Examples

• Grandad gets sentimental when he looks at old photos. tree →
• This old teddy has sentimental value, so please don't throw it away. tree →
• Mum kept my first shoes for sentimental reasons. tree →
• The film was too sentimental for my brother, who said it was soppy. tree →
• She sang a sentimental song about her home town. tree →
• Don't get all sentimental on me, it's only a sleepover! tree →
• The ring isn't expensive, but it means a lot to me. It's sentimental. tree →
• Our teacher said the poem was moving without being sentimental. tree →
• The violet, a little too sentimental. tree →

Note

Adjective only; noun «sentiment», «sentimentality»; adverb «sentimentally». «Sentimental value» means value in feelings, not price — in a maths problem it adds nothing to the cost. Don't confuse with «sensitive» (easily hurt or quick to notice) or «sensible» (wise, practical).