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b(1)
: a beloved person : darling
—often used as a term of endearment
(2)
British
—used as an informal term of address
4
a
: unselfish loyal and benevolent (see benevolent sense 1a) concern for the good of another: such as
(1)
: the fatherly concern of God for humankind
(2)
: brotherly concern for others
b
: a person's adoration of God
loved; loving
: to feel affection or experience desire
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
Mr. Brown seems to imply that when he retired he relinquished her love as casually as he dispensed with her secretarial services.
—
Ken Follett, New York Times Book Review, 27 Dec. 1987
… Eddie sees Vince's pure love of pool, and after years of thinking of the game as merely a hustle, the older man suddenly falls back in love with the game himself.
—Maureen Dowd, New York Times Magazine, 28 Sept. 1986
Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she was through.
—Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
Allworthy thus answered: " … I have always thought love the only foundation of happiness in a married state, as it can only produce that high and tender friendship which should always be the cement of this union … "
—Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749
Children need unconditional love from their parents.
He was just a lonely man looking for love.
Verb
People loved him for his brashness and talent, his crazy manglings of the English language, his brawling, boyish antics … and I loved him, too, I loved him as much as anyone in the world.
—Paul Auster, Granta, Winter 1994
Lying awake, listening to the sound of his father's breathing, he knew there was no one in the world he loved so much.
—William Maxwell, New Yorker, 15 May 1989
I love either rushing off into abstractions, or shamelessly talking personalities.
—Elizabeth Bowen, letter, 28 Apr. 1923
"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well."
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
She obviously loves her family very much.
You have to love in order to be loved.
He swore that he loved her madly.
She said she could never marry a man she didn't love.
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Ken Follett, New York Times Book Review, 27 Dec. 1987
… Eddie sees Vince's pure love of pool, and after years of thinking of the game as merely a hustle, the older man suddenly falls back in love with the game himself.
—Maureen Dowd, New York Times Magazine, 28 Sept. 1986
Aunt Polly knelt down and prayed for Tom so touchingly, so appealingly, and with such measureless love in her words and her old trembling voice, that he was weltering in tears again, long before she was through.
—Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
Allworthy thus answered: " … I have always thought love the only foundation of happiness in a married state, as it can only produce that high and tender friendship which should always be the cement of this union … "
—Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749
Children need unconditional love from their parents.
He was just a lonely man looking for love.
Verb
People loved him for his brashness and talent, his crazy manglings of the English language, his brawling, boyish antics … and I loved him, too, I loved him as much as anyone in the world.
—Paul Auster, Granta, Winter 1994
Lying awake, listening to the sound of his father's breathing, he knew there was no one in the world he loved so much.
—William Maxwell, New Yorker, 15 May 1989
I love either rushing off into abstractions, or shamelessly talking personalities.
—Elizabeth Bowen, letter, 28 Apr. 1923
"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well."
—Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813
She obviously loves her family very much.
You have to love in order to be loved.
He swore that he loved her madly.
She said she could never marry a man she didn't love.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebGriselda Flores, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2023
Saint Mary’s has been the spoiler to some perfect Gonzaga seasons in the past, and the Zags love getting a win in the Moraga gym.
—Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2023
Born and raised in privilege on a farm in upstate New York, Cassie fell in love with Vincent at art college before the reality of life kicked in.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023
Middleton, from East Yorkshire, England, also shared that Peggy was the runt of her litter and waited six months for a home before Middleton fell in love with the pup.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
But fans immediately fell in love with the actors' natural chemistry together and wanted more.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Over the past three years, many Americans have fallen out of love with ambition.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2023
The Newton native and Jamaica Plain resident began leafing through graphic novels as a kid, falling in love with the mesh of art and words.
—Diti Kohli, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2023
Hung Nguyen, 70, of Santa Ana was a gun enthusiast in his youth, after moving to Chicago from Vietnam and falling in love with American cowboys in the movies — especially John Wayne.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2023
Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 12 Jan. 2023
Reassuring a nervous baby journalist is, of course, just one reason to love Kate Winslet.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Jan. 2023
The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.
—Yaa Bofah, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023
Just to check in and say hello, love you, thinking of you.
—Vivian Ewing, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2023
The people who love you are ready to share their appreciation!
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023
TikTok creators have been sharing their experiences with shadow work as a way to help heal their inner child, learn to love themselves on a deeper level, and process their emotions in healthier ways.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 6 Jan. 2023
Fans of ska, alternative rock and reggae will find plenty to love throughout the lineup.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
There's plenty to love about it beyond the price point.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 6 Jan. 2023
See More
Noun
In the eight-track album — produced by The Rude Boyz — Maluma stays true to his urbano essence singing about love, lust and heartbreak, but does so with slightly more raunchier lyrics.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 4 Feb. 2023
Saint Mary’s has been the spoiler to some perfect Gonzaga seasons in the past, and the Zags love getting a win in the Moraga gym.
—Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2023
Born and raised in privilege on a farm in upstate New York, Cassie fell in love with Vincent at art college before the reality of life kicked in.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023
Middleton, from East Yorkshire, England, also shared that Peggy was the runt of her litter and waited six months for a home before Middleton fell in love with the pup.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
But fans immediately fell in love with the actors' natural chemistry together and wanted more.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 3 Feb. 2023
Over the past three years, many Americans have fallen out of love with ambition.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 2 Feb. 2023
The Newton native and Jamaica Plain resident began leafing through graphic novels as a kid, falling in love with the mesh of art and words.
—Diti Kohli, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Jan. 2023
Hung Nguyen, 70, of Santa Ana was a gun enthusiast in his youth, after moving to Chicago from Vietnam and falling in love with American cowboys in the movies — especially John Wayne.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2023
Verb
Mama Combs, Quincy, Justin, Christian, Chance, D’Lila, Jessie, and I all love you so much!
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 12 Jan. 2023
Reassuring a nervous baby journalist is, of course, just one reason to love Kate Winslet.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 10 Jan. 2023
The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.
—Yaa Bofah, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023
Just to check in and say hello, love you, thinking of you.
—Vivian Ewing, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2023
The people who love you are ready to share their appreciation!
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023
TikTok creators have been sharing their experiences with shadow work as a way to help heal their inner child, learn to love themselves on a deeper level, and process their emotions in healthier ways.
—Devon Abelman, Allure, 6 Jan. 2023
Fans of ska, alternative rock and reggae will find plenty to love throughout the lineup.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2023
There's plenty to love about it beyond the price point.
—Brad Lanphear, Men's Health, 6 Jan. 2023
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'love.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love, Old English lēof dear, Latin lubēre, libēre to please
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of love was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing love
Dictionary Entries Near love
Cite this Entry
“Love.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love. Accessed 6 Feb. 2023.
Kids Definition
love
1 of 2 noun2
a
: attraction based on sexual desire : the strong affection and tenderness felt by lovers
b
: a beloved person : darling
love
2 of 2 verb
loved; loving
More from Merriam-Webster on love
Nglish: Translation of love for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of love for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about love
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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