What does "savour" mean?
An aroma or smell.
Savour
/ˈseɪvə/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An aroma or smell.
- Grammar: savour is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: flavour, relish, appreciate, bask.
- Useful contrasts: abhor, blandness, certainty.
- Usage evidence: It's nice to sip and savour drinks other than beer as well from time to time.
How to use "savour"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "savour" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "savour" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "savour" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "savour" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "savour" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "flavour" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "savour", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An aroma or smell. UK, countable
"And Noe [Noah] made an aulter vnto the LORDE⸝ and toke of all maner of clene beaſtes and all maner of clene foules⸝ and offred ſacrifyce vppon the aulter. And the LORDE ſmellyd a ſwete ſavoure and ſayd in his hert: I wyll henceforth no more curſe the erth for mannes ſake⸝ […]"
- 2 the taste experience when a savoury condiment is taken into the mouth wordnet
- 3 The quality which the sense of taste detects; also (countable), a specific flavour or taste, especially one different from the predominant one. UK, uncountable
"[B]y our Sences which conceiue al Colours, Sounds, Sents, Sauors, and Féelings; wée may ſee, heare, ſmell, taſt, and feele, that one ſelfſame workman made both the Sences, and the things that are ſubiect to the Sences."
- 4 The quality which the sense of taste detects; also (countable), a specific flavour or taste, especially one different from the predominant one.; An appealing or appetizing flavour, especially one which is savoury or strong. UK, countable
"Ye are the ſalte of the earth: but if the ſalte haue loſt his ſauour, vvherevvith ſhal it be ſalted? It is thenceforthe good for nothing, but to be caſt out, & to be troden vnder fote of men."
- 5 A distinctive sensation like a flavour or taste, or an aroma or smell. UK, countable, figuratively
"[W]hy is not my life a continual Joy? and the ſavor of Heaven perpetually upon my ſpirit?"
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A particular quality, especially a small amount of it; a hint or trace of something. UK, countable, figuratively
"Come ſir, this admiration is much of the ſauour of other your nevv prankes, I doe beſeech you vnderſtand my purpoſes aright, […]"
- 7 A quality which is appealing or enjoyable; merit, value. UK, countable, figuratively
- 8 A reputation. UK, archaic, countable, figuratively
"The LORDE loke vpon you, ⁊ iudge it, for ye haue made the ſauoure of vs to ſtynke before Pharao and his ſeruauntes, and haue geuen them a ſwerde in their handes, to ſlaye vs."
- 9 Enjoyment or taste for something; appreciation; pleasure; relish; (countable) an instance of this. UK, figuratively, uncountable
"Gerald shook his head in the savour of triumph."
- 10 Knowledge; understanding. UK, figuratively, obsolete, uncountable
"[M]any of them were wery of theyr life, beyng very deſyrous of him [Jesus], of whom they had a certeyne ſauour and vnderſtandyng (ſimple though it wer:) who ſodenly ſhould renewe all kynde of men, and theyr ſynnes clerely abolyſhed, bryng them vnto the kyngdõ of righteouſneſſe."
Verb
- 1 To detect (a flavour or taste, or food or drink); to taste; specifically, to enjoy or linger on (a flavour or taste, or food and drink); to relish. UK, transitive
"He closed his eyes so he could really savour his dessert."
- 2 derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in wordnet
- 3 To give (food or drink) flavour; to flavour, to season. UK, transitive
"What Flesh is fitting for Man to Eat, / Until our Herbs do savour the Meat?"
- 4 taste appreciatively wordnet
- 5 To detect (an aroma or smell, especially an appealing one); to smell. UK, archaic, transitive
"VViſedome and goodnes, to the vild ſeeme vild, / Filths ſauor but themſelues, vvhat haue you done?"
Show 17 more definitions
- 6 give taste to wordnet
- 7 To enjoy (something) deeply or in a lingering manner; to appreciate, to delight in, to relish. UK, figuratively, transitive
"VVhẽ vvickednes vvas ſvvete in his mouthe, & he hid it vnder his tongue, / And ſauoured it, and vvolde not forſake it, but kept it cloſe in his mouth, / Then his meat in his bovvels vvas turned: the gall of aſpes vvas in the middes of hĩ [him]."
- 8 have flavor; taste of something wordnet
- 9 To find (something) appealing; to appreciate, to like. UK, figuratively, transitive
"The man that coueteth gold, conceiueth not goodneſſe, his appetite is of the earth, and thoſe that are earthly minded, ſauour not the things that are of God."
- 10 To possess (a particular, often negative, quality), especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of (something). UK, archaic, figuratively, transitive
"No more be mention'd then of violence / Againſt our ſelves, and vvilful barrenneſs, / That cuts us off from hope, and ſavours onely / Rancor and pride, impatience and deſpite, / Reluctance againſt God and his juſt yoke / Laid on our Necks."
- 11 To be appealing to (a person, the senses, etc.). UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive
- 12 To experience, perceive, or understand (something). UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive
"BY novv, perhaps, thou ſauoreſts^([sic – meaning savorest]) ſome Godhead: yeat, is ods. / VVith paſte and preſent times doeſt dreame Pluralitie of Gods. / So did in deed the Monarchies, ſo Miſcreants novv not fevv: / But liſten here vvhat Gods they vvere, and learne them to eſchevv."
- 13 To give (something) a particular quality; to imbue with. UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive
"So theſe olde huddles hauing ouercharged their gorges with fancie, accompte all honeſt recreation méere follly,^([sic]) and hauinge taken a ſurfet of delyght, ſéeme now to ſauor it with deſpight."
- 14 To give (something) an aroma or smell. UK, figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive
- 15 Followed by out: to detect or find (something). UK, figuratively, obsolete, rare, transitive
- 16 To have a suspicion of (something). UK, figuratively, obsolete, transitive
"Siſter, I ſee you ſauour of my vviles, / Be it as you vvill haue for this once, […]"
- 17 Of a thing: to give off a (specified) aroma or smell. UK, archaic, intransitive
"[T]he ſaffrone bagge that hath bene full of ſaffron, or hath had ſaffron in it, doth euer after ſauoure and ſmel of the ſwete ſaffron that it conteyned: […]"
- 18 Of food or drink: to have a specified (especially appealing) flavour or taste. UK, archaic, intransitive, obsolete
"And I purpoſed to try, vvhether thoſe [meats] that pleaſed my taſte brought me commoditie or diſcommoditie; and vvhether that Proverb,[…], That vvhich ſavours, is good and nouriſheth, be conſonant to truth. This upon triall I found moſt falſe: […]"
- 19 To possess a particular (often negative) quality, especially a small amount of it; to be redolent or suggestive of. UK, figuratively, intransitive
"Ol[ivia]. […] Fetch Maluolio hither, / And yet alas, novv I remember me, / They ſay poore Gentleman, he's much diſtract. […] Did he vvrite this? / Clo[wn]. I [aye] Madame. / Du[ke Orsino]. This ſauours not much of diſtraction."
- 20 Chiefly followed by a descriptive word like ill or well: to have a specified quality. UK, archaic, figuratively, intransitive
"What is loathsome to the young / Savours well to thee and me."
- 21 To give off a foul smell; to stink. UK, intransitive, obsolete
- 22 Chiefly followed by to, unto, with, etc.: to be appealing. UK, figuratively, intransitive, obsolete
Example
"It's nice to sip and savour drinks other than beer as well from time to time."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "savour"?
Common synonyms include: flavour, relish, appreciate, bask, character, distinctiveness.
How do you use "savour" in a sentence?
It's nice to sip and savour drinks other than beer as well from time to time.
How do you pronounce "savour"?
Pronounced /ˈseɪvə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English savour, from Anglo-Norman saveur, savor, savour, and Old French saveur, savor, savour (modern French saveur), from Latin sapor, from sapiō (“to taste of (something); to have a flavour”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *seh₁p-, *sep- (“to taste; to try out”)) + -or (suffix forming third-declension masculine abstract nouns). Doublet of sapor.
Etymology 2
From Middle English savouren, savour, from Anglo-Norman savorer, savourer, Middle French savorer, savourer, and Old French savorer, savourer (modern French savourer), from Late Latin sapōrāre, the present active infinitive of sapōrō (“to give flavour, make tasty; to give pleasure”), from Latin sapor (see etymology 1) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).