savor
SAY-vur
/ˈseɪvər/
To taste (good food or drink) and enjoy it completely; a characteristic taste, flavor, or smell.
Implies slow, deliberate enjoyment, often involving multiple senses.
The story behind the word. In Latin, 'sapere' meant both 'to taste' and 'to be wise.' This reflects the ancient idea that a person with good taste is also a person with good judgment. The word 'homo sapiens' (wise man) comes from the same root.
Word relationships
- relish: Relish implies great personal enjoyment; savor focuses more on the sensory appreciation of the flavor itself.
- enjoy: Enjoy is a general term; savor is specific to slow, sensory pleasure.
- gobble: To eat quickly and hungrily.
Commonly confused with
- savory: Savor is the verb/noun; savory is the adjective meaning salty/spicy rather than sweet.
Word family
- savory (adjective): Having a salty or spicy flavor; not sweet.
Collocations
- savor the moment
- savor the flavor
- savor the experience
- full of savor
Example sentences
- "To truly appreciate the chocolate, you must let it melt on your tongue and savor the changing notes of fruit and spice." Advice on how to eat fine chocolate.
- "He wanted to savor every moment of his victory." A metaphorical use.
Memory hook
Savor = Save the flavor. You eat slowly to save it. Taste slowly, think deeply.
When not to use
Don't use it for 'eating' in a hurry. You don't savor a sandwich you eat while running to a meeting.
Fun facts
- The British spelling is 'savour,' while the American is 'savor.'
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