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.
Synonyms
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
When prose writers rose to literary prominence, in the eighteenth century, lovers of verse deemed the medium vulgar.
—
Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
The flavor favored by latte lovers and ice cream fans has been the subject of more than 200 lawsuits, according to a report in the National Law Review.
—Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
Untouched by modernization, the grandstands and the pavement sit close as lovers, no chaste safety fencing between them.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023
This park features 18th-century French army barracks and is a must-visit for history lovers.
—Julia Eskins, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2023
Season 14 of the Great British Bake Off (or the Great British Baking Show in the US) premiers September 29 on Netflix and lovers of bucolic b-roll of the English countryside and amateur bakers alike are clutching their bundt pans in excitement.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2023
At Moda, customers and fashion lovers are able to pre-order off-the-runway finds and exclusives.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2023
Unlike niche categories like beauty gifts or presents for pet lovers, tech spans far and wide.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2023
Xavier Rivas was a 2020 graduate of Madison Park High School, a lover of Puerto Rico, hats, Polo shirts, cars, music — and fireworks.
—John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023
The flavor favored by latte lovers and ice cream fans has been the subject of more than 200 lawsuits, according to a report in the National Law Review.
—Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2023
Untouched by modernization, the grandstands and the pavement sit close as lovers, no chaste safety fencing between them.
—Bob Sorokanich, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023
This park features 18th-century French army barracks and is a must-visit for history lovers.
—Julia Eskins, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2023
Season 14 of the Great British Bake Off (or the Great British Baking Show in the US) premiers September 29 on Netflix and lovers of bucolic b-roll of the English countryside and amateur bakers alike are clutching their bundt pans in excitement.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2023
At Moda, customers and fashion lovers are able to pre-order off-the-runway finds and exclusives.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2023
Unlike niche categories like beauty gifts or presents for pet lovers, tech spans far and wide.
—Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2023
Xavier Rivas was a 2020 graduate of Madison Park High School, a lover of Puerto Rico, hats, Polo shirts, cars, music — and fireworks.
—John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing lover
Dictionary Entries Near lover
Cite this Entry
“Lover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lover. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
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Kids Definition
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on lover
Nglish: Translation of lover for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lover for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
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