limerence
noun
a state or feeling of deep infatuation
What does limerence mean?
Limerence (sometimes spelled limerance) refers to a state or feeling of deep infatuation experienced early on in a relationship. It can also refer to an intense, sometimes obsessive, feeling of romantic attachment to someone that is unrequited.
Examples of limerence
limerence is so annoying why do i care so much about how this person feels about me
—@dreamtanuki, X (formerly Twitter), 5 Nov. 2025
Every time I see him I feel like a teen having a crush again. I don’t know anymore if it’s love, limerence or just longing for times I lost …
—Chatter echoes around me as I relax with a drink on a Thursday night. In the corner of the pool, a couple obviously in the clutches of limerence strive to contain their affections as per the rules of this public establishment.
—Gabby, who goes by @respectfullygabby on TikTok, leveled with her viewers that they needed to let go of whoever the object of their unrequited love was. … ‘Omg YEEEEESSSS! All of it. PREACH. Especially the last part. I’ve been learning SO much,’ one wrote. ‘Needed that today,’ a second chimed in. ‘De centring men is the best thing I’ve done to control my [continued] limerance,’ a third professed.
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Where does limerence come from?
The coining of limerence is credited to psychologist Dorothy Tennov, who authored the 1979 book Love and Limerence.
I coined the word “limerence.” It was pronounceable and seemed to me and to two students to have a “fitting” sound. To be in the state of limerence is to feel what is usually termed “being in love.”
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How is limerence used?
Despite being coined by a psychologist, limerence is no longer, if it ever was, a strictly technical term. Limerence also has an adjective form (also used in Tennov’s book), limerent, though it is far less common.
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