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

The conversation heightened Hardaway’s temptation to pick Denver among a handful of suitors in free agency. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026

At one moment teased in the trailer, Paul seemed to kick out one of her suitors well before a rose ceremony. —Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026

Following the news that the reality series would not air as planned, Paul’s suitors have taken to social media to share their reactions. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026

Although their material realities stand in direct opposition to one another, Lola feels an immediate affinity for her lanky suitor. —Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 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