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

Laney-Hamilton, 32, is likely to have multiple suitors on the open market. — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, her two former suitors became rather close after spending a considerable amount of time as rivals. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026

But the idea that really a violation of xenia, a violation of Zeus’ Law — which is what the suitors are doing in the palace — that really is the [breaking] of Zeus’ Law that is causing this difficulty and this damage. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026

Pitching for what turned out to be his last game in a San Francisco Giants uniform before Monday’s trade deadline, Robbie Ray made a strong case for prospective suitors. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 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