suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsü-tər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
1
: one that petitions or entreats
2
: a party to a suit at law
3
: one who courts a woman or seeks to marry her
4
: one who seeks to take over a business

Examples of suitor in a Sentence

He was her most persistent suitor, and she eventually agreed to marry him. An unwanted suitor is buying up the company's stock.
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.
Most historians believe Gunness would first poison her suitors, then finish them with an ax or by bludgeoning — afterward dismembering the corpses and burying what remained. Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025 Al-Sheikh’s message sparked a flurry of speculation in the following 48 hours over possible suitors, although the club have remained silent on the subject. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 The 11-person company was approached by other potential suitors, including Elon Musk’s xAI and Neuralink, executives said in the meeting. Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025 Taylor is expected to have several options, with schools emerging as potential suitors for the junior wide receiver including Syracuse, Nebraska, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida State, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Ohio State. Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suitor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sutour, suytour, follower, petitioner, from Anglo-French siuter, suytour, from Latin secutor follower, from sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suitor was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Suitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suitor. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

suitor

noun
suit·​or ˈsüt-ər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
1
: one that petitions or pleads
2
: a party to a suit at law
3
: a man who courts a woman or seeks to marry her

Legal Definition

suitor

noun
suit·​or ˈsü-tər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
1
: a party to a suit
2
: one that seeks to take over a business
approved the merger before the suitor obtained a 10% stakeWall Street Journal

More from Merriam-Webster on suitor

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