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 of suitor

• 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

After weeks of wondering who could be up for the mystery James Bond screen test, Deadline has not only found out who the actor is, another suitor is being added to the mix. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2026

Jonathan Taylor remains the headliner of this trade deadline, with the Giants, Vikings and Broncos seen as the main suitors for the Indianapolis Colts running back. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

The bow, preserved by Janaka’s royal dynasty, is so unyielding that no suitor has yet succeeded in stringing it. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Twenty years later, Elizabeth (Roden) is spending Christmas at Biltmore and this time is accompanied by James (Trevena), a suitor her Aunt Maysilee (MacDowell) is keen for her to wed. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026

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