lover

noun

lov·​er ˈlə-vər How to pronounce lover (audio)
1
a
: a person in love
b
lovers plural : two persons in love with each other
2
: an affectionate or benevolent friend
3
: devotee
a lover of mystery novels
a lover of nature
4
a
: paramour
Her husband found a love letter from her lover.
b
: a person with whom one has sexual relations
He was her first lover.

Examples of lover in a Sentence

His wife accused him of having a secret lover. She left her husband and ran away with her lover.
Recent Examples on the Web Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 D’Agostino, a watch lover, fashioned the dial’s volume indicator to emulate the hands of a Swiss timepiece. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2024 Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel play cook and gourmand, lovers who bond over their art. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Courtesy of cinematographer Oscar Ignacio Jiménez, its tight close-ups of locked eyes, smiling mouths, naked stretch marks and feet wrapped around lovers’ waists combine to create a mode of hypnotic cinematic intimacy, which the film frequently enters for lengthy stretches. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 So, what are the options for spice lovers who want the original flavor of a jalapeño? Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024 Dance lovers of all ages will delight in the treasured fairy tale of a jealous Queen and her kind-hearted stepdaughter. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 In 1939, the doors of the barn swung open, and Lair turned a rural part of Kentucky into a destination for music lovers. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 What will this mean in the long run for Cincinnati music lovers? Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lover.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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

Dictionary Entries Near lover

Cite this Entry

“Lover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lover. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lover

noun
lov·​er ˈləv-ər How to pronounce lover (audio)
1
a
: a person in love
b
plural : two persons in love with each other
2
: devotee
a lover of music
3
a
b
: a person with whom one has sexual relations

Biographical Definition

Lover

biographical name

Lov·​er ˈlə-vər How to pronounce Lover (audio)
Samuel 1797–1868 Irish novelist

More from Merriam-Webster on lover

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