limerence

American  

[li-mer-uhns] / ˈlɪ mɛr əns /

Or limerance

noun

1. the state of being obsessively infatuated with someone, usually accompanied by delusions of or a desire for an intense romantic relationship with that person.

   Her limerence lasted for around three months before she actually met him.

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limerence British  

/ ˈlɪmɪrəns /

noun

1. psychol a state of mind resulting from romantic attraction, characterized by feelings of euphoria, the desire to have one's feelings reciprocated, etc

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Usage

What is limerence? Limerence is a state of deep infatuation or romantic desire for someone, as in Rudy’s feelings for the pop star were limerence, not love, because he didn’t even know the star. Someone who is experiencing limerence is usually obsessive or intensely infatuated with someone else. Often, the object of a person’s limerence does not share the feelings and, as a result, the person may experience delusions or unreasonable desire for a romantic relationship with the person they feel limerence toward. Example: The limerence they experienced was palpable in the room.

Other Word Forms

• limerent
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of limerence

Arbitrary coinage by Dorothy Tennov, U.S. psychologist (1928-2007) in her book Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love

Example Sentences

They released their debut album In Limerence, performed on Later… with Jools Holland, played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, and earned a Mercury Prize nomination for Album of the Year.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

It's titled In Limerence, referring to a state of romantic infatuation that the singer's often trying to escape.

From BBC • May 30, 2025

Blanco opted for a $750 white robe by Los Angeles-based designer Limerence.

From Fox News • Mar. 21, 2019

Limerence can strike at almost any age, and men seem to be just as susceptible as women.

From Time Magazine Archive

Limerence She says, from the French word limier.

From "Booked" by Kwame Alexander