suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsü-tər 

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

Synonyms

• boyfriend
• lover
• wooer
• man
• fellow

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

Rashford’s wage meant potential suitors comprised a narrow field. —David Ornstein, New York Times, 22 July 2025

Alan Rickman, with his deep, mellow, softly puffing voice, is immensely sympathetic as that most patient of suitors, Colonel Brandon. —Tom Gliatto, People.com, 19 July 2025

His wife, Penelope, is fending off a horde of obnoxious suitors trying to take his throne, while their son, Telemachus, grows up wondering if his father is still alive. —Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 17 July 2025

Keeping that in mind, they have been connected as a top potential suitor for an eight-time Pro Bowl pass rusher late in free agency. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025

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

Rhymes for suitor

• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter
• shooter
• tutor
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer

Kids Definition

suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsüt-ər 

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 

1

: a party to a suit

2

: one that seeks to take over a business

approved the merger before the suitor obtained a 10% stake

—Wall Street Journal