ambrosial Meaning

  • literary

Ambrosial describes something that tastes or smells exceptionally delicious, divine, or heavenly. The term originates from Greek mythology, where "ambrosia" was the food or drink of the gods, believed to grant immortality to those who consumed it. In modern usage, it is a highly evocative, elevated adjective. It is rarely used in casual conversation about a quick sandwich or a cup of instant coffee; rather, it is reserved for culinary experiences that are transcendent, fragrant, or truly exquisite.

ambrosial in Conversation

Dinner at a high-end restaurant

  • Chef: I hope you enjoy the wild mushroom reduction.I hope you enjoy the wild mushroom reduction.
  • Guest: It is absolutely ambrosial, Chef. I've never tasted anything quite like it.It is absolutely ambrosial, Chef. I've never tasted anything quite like it.

Used here to emphasize the exceptional quality of fine dining.

Walking through a garden

  • Sarah: Can you smell the jasmine in the evening air?Can you smell the jasmine in the evening air?
  • Mark: It's ambrosial. It makes the whole garden feel like a sanctuary.It's ambrosial. It makes the whole garden feel like a sanctuary.

Used to describe a scent that is intoxicatingly pleasant.

Examples

  1. The ambrosial aroma of freshly baked bread filled the entire house.

    The ambrosial aroma of freshly baked bread filled the entire house.

  2. She savored the ambrosial nectar of the sun-ripened peaches.

    She savored the ambrosial nectar of the sun-ripened peaches.

  3. The poet described the mountain breeze as an ambrosial balm for his weary soul.

    The poet described the mountain breeze as an ambrosial balm for his weary soul.