Grandeur
/ˈɡræn.dʒɚ/
nounC1
Definition
Grandeur is the quality of being grand, which means very large, beautiful, and impressive. It often describes buildings, nature, events, or ideas that feel important and inspiring because of their size or style. People use grandeur to talk about things that look or feel powerful and special.
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See It in Action
Great beauty or impressiveness in appearance or style
- •The grandeur of the ancient temple left all visitors speechless.
- •The concert hall's grandeur made the music feel even more special.
- •She admired the grandeur of the mountain landscape during her hike.
The quality of being important or noble
- •The grandeur of the king's ceremony showed his power and respect.
- •The writer described the grandeur of freedom in his poem.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "grandeur" like "big" or "beautiful," but much stronger and more impressive—like something that makes you feel amazed
- ✓Picture a huge, old castle with tall towers, shiny walls, and wide gardens that make you say "Wow!"
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a very big mountain or a famous palace that looks very rich and important
- ✓Sounds like "GRAND-your" → Imagine someone telling you "This is GRAND, just for YOU," making you feel special and impressed
- ✓Think of famous places like the Palace of Versailles or the Grand Canyon—both show grandeur in different ways: one by design, one by nature
- ✓NOT like "big" (just size), grandeur includes beauty, style, and a feeling of importance
- ✓NOT like "luxury" (expensive things for comfort), grandeur is about impressiveness and greatness, not just comfort
- ✓NOT like "simple" or "plain"—grandeur is the opposite, full of detail and strong presence
- ✓NOT like "ordinary"—grandeur stands out and is memorable because of its power and beauty
Try Other Words
- •Magnificence: great beauty and impressiveness (Use when emphasizing beauty and rich detail)
- •Splendor: brightness and beauty that catches attention (Use when focusing on shining or bright qualities)
- •Majesty: impressive beauty or dignity, often related to kings or nature (Use when talking about noble or royal qualities)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from French "grandeur," from "grand" meaning big or great + suffix "-eur" meaning quality or state
- •Etymology: comes from French, originally meaning "greatness" or "largeness"
- •Historical development: used in English since the 1600s to describe impressive size or beauty, often in art, buildings, or nature
- •Modern usage: describes anything that looks or feels very important, beautiful, or impressive, from nature to events or ideas
- •Key insight: not just size, but a feeling of power, beauty, and importance combined
Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of places or events have you experienced that showed grandeur? How did they make you feel?
•Can something small have grandeur, or does grandeur always need to be big and large?
Fill in the blanks
1.The grandeur of the palace made visitors feel ___ in the presence of something very ___ and beautiful.
2.People often use grandeur to describe ___ places like mountains or ___ buildings.
3.Unlike simple beauty, grandeur includes a feeling of ___ and ___ that makes something stand out.
4.The grandeur of the ceremony showed the leader’s ___ and ___ in the community.
5.When describing grandeur, words like ___ and ___ often appear to show impressiveness.
6.Grandeur is NOT just about size; it also includes ___ and ___ that make something special.
7.You might feel ___ or ___ when you see grandeur in nature or art.