Sentimental means feeling or showing tender emotions, especially about memories, people, or things from the past. When your grandmother keeps every birthday card you've ever made for her, she's being sentimental. When you feel a warm glow looking at photos from last summer's vacation, that's a sentimental feeling.

People become sentimental about objects that remind them of important moments: a ticket stub from their first concert, their father's old watch, or a stuffed animal from childhood. These things might not be worth much money, but they have what we call sentimental value: they matter because of the memories and feelings attached to them.

The word can also suggest emotions that are a bit too sweet or exaggerated. A movie might be called overly sentimental if it tries too hard to make you cry with sad music and dramatic scenes. But there's nothing wrong with genuine sentiment: treasuring meaningful connections and memories is part of being human. When you save your favorite book from third grade or feel moved by an old family story, you're feeling the natural pull of sentimental attachment to the people and moments that have shaped your life.