amorous

adjective

am·​o·​rous ˈa-mə-rəs How to pronounce amorous (audio)
ˈam-rəs
1
: strongly moved by love and especially sexual love
amorous couples
2
: being in love : enamored
usually used with of
amorous of the girl
3
a
: indicative of love
received amorous glances from her partner
b
: of or relating to love
an amorous novel
amorously adverb
amorousness noun

Examples of amorous in a Sentence

Vickers has now turned his formidable powers to "A Lover's Complaint". This 329-line amorous oration was published with the Sonnets in 1609, though it is probably little read even by those for whom the sonnets are a form of poetic oxygen. Harold Love, Times Literary Supplement, 6 July 2007
The first commercial valentines were produced in the U.S. in 1834 by one Robert H. Elton, and the custom of sending greeting cards with amorous messages has persisted. Phillip Lopate, Wigwag, February 1990
His amorous affairs he flaunted as if they were masterpieces, and he invited his marital partner to share in the esthetic experience. John Updike, New York Times Book Review, 29 Mar. 1987
He has an amorous nature. male birds engage in amorous behavior—nest-building, singing, showing off their finery—in order to attract females
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Maybe that’s not quite right, but this powerful 1970s duet featuring the big man and Ellen Foley on vocals and some play-by-play announcing is a testament to the more amorous and ultimately regrettable uses some folks have put their automobiles through. Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025 If the male tarantula is successful in his amorous pursuits, he may be attacked, killed and eaten by the female, although current research suggests that is not as common as once thought. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025 Continuing Jodie Mack’s (The Grand Bizarre, NYFF56) long-term project of animating alternative materials, Lover, Lovers, Loving, Love is an ecstatic and visceral reflection on temporality, both human and botanical, an amorous affirmation of death and life. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025 Also in the episode, Trump complained about the size of his manhood in an official painting before crawling into bed with and trying to be amorous with Satan. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for amorous

Word History

Etymology

Middle English amorous, amerous, borrowed from Anglo-French amerous, amerus, amorous (continental Old French amoreus, amorous), going back to Vulgar Latin *amōrōsus, from Latin amōr-, amor "love" + -ōsus -ous — more at amour

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of amorous was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Amorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amorous. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

amorous

adjective
am·​o·​rous ˈam-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce amorous (audio)
1
: tending to love : easily falling in love
an amorous nature
2
: of, relating to, or caused by love
an amorous glance
amorously adverb
amorousness noun
Etymology

Middle English amorous "moved by love," from early French amorous (same meaning), derived from Latin amare "to love" — related to amateur

More from Merriam-Webster on amorous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!