savor

1 of 2

noun

sa·​vor ˈsā-vər How to pronounce savor (audio)
variants or less commonly savour
Synonyms of savor
1
: the taste or smell of something
2
: a particular flavor or smell
3
: a distinctive quality
savorless
ˈsā-vər-ləs How to pronounce savor (audio)
adjective
savorous
ˈsā-vər-əs How to pronounce savor (audio)
ˈsāv-rəs
adjective

savor

2 of 2

verb

variants or less commonly savour
savored also savoured; savoring also savouring ˈsā-vər-iŋ How to pronounce savor (audio)
ˈsāv-riŋ

intransitive verb

: to have a specified smell or quality : smack

transitive verb

1
: to give flavor to : season
2
a
: to have experience of : taste
b
: to taste or smell with pleasure : relish
c
: to delight in : enjoy
savoring the moment
savorer
ˈsā-vər-ər How to pronounce savor (audio)
noun

Synonyms of savor

Relevance

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of savor in a Sentence

Noun Without her love, life has lost its savor for me. a gourmet who can identify the ingredients in any dish solely by their savor Verb He savored the aroma of the baking pies. They savored every last morsel of food. She was just savoring the moment. The team is still savoring its victory. He savored the memories of his vacation.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Some people want to change the world, and others want to operate in simple harmony with it and savor life. — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 Droog takes time to savor his accomplishments while also dealing with years of repressed emotions. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026 Nearly three years later, London savored every drive while the Falcons scored their most points in a decade in a 45-24 win over the Saints in New Orleans. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The festivities kicked off in the town of Tequila with a full day at the Mundo Cuervo Distillery, wandering through agave fields, learning about the historic production process, and savoring lunch in the heart of José Cuervo’s hacienda. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for savor

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French savur, from Latin sapor, from sapere to taste — more at sage

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of savor was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing savor

Rhymes for savor

See All Rhymes for savor

Browse Nearby Words

Savonnerie
savor
savorer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Savor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savor. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

savor

1 of 2 noun
sa·​vor ˈsā-vər How to pronounce savor (audio)
1
: the taste and odor of something
2
: something clearly marking one as different from others
savorless
-ləs How to pronounce savor (audio)
adjective

savor

2 of 2 verb
savored; savoring ˈsāv-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce savor (audio)
1
: to have a specified smell or quality
2
: to give flavor to
3
: to taste or smell with pleasure : relish
savorer
ˈsā-vər-ər How to pronounce savor (audio)
noun
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