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

Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Crystal Palace have been among his suitors, and though Hackney’s preference is to join Everton, interest in the 23-year-old remains from elsewhere. —David Ornstein, New York Times, 5 June 2026

There have been bread crumbs and clues about several suitors, but very little information that’s credible and definitive. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026

Since Ngatikaura filed for divorce in March, Draper has had several buzzy romantic moments with suitors in her orbit. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026

Nova Labs had around ten suitors interested in buying its mobile business, but Mong said Noble Mobile under Yang’s leadership was a natural fit. —Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 2 June 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