Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

lovemaking

American  
[luhv-may-king] / ˈlʌvˌmeɪ kɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of courting or wooing.

  2. sexual activity.


lovemaking British  
/ ˈlʌvˌmeɪkɪŋ /

noun

  1. sexual play and activity between lovers, esp including sexual intercourse

  2. an archaic word for courtship

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lovemaking

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at love, making


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

His performance feels awkward at first—like Jason Biggs or Will Ferrell fretting about lovemaking and analysts in a late-era Woody Allen film—but it becomes more convincing as the play progresses, as does the play itself.

From The New Yorker ● Nov. 5, 2018

His name is Valancourt, and his idea of passionate lovemaking is to beseech, if Emily thinks him "not unworthy such honour," whether he "might be permitted sometimes to enquire after your health."

From Time Magazine Archive

The idea of a sort of highborn Oxford, circa 1900, fits the play's alfresco gaieties, elaborate forms, donnish humor and prankish but decorous lovemaking.

From Time Magazine Archive

Most of the tragedies in the novel result not from too much lovemaking but too much getting even.

From Time Magazine Archive

As you may suppose, I could not help taking notice; but for two days, nor, in fact, for the whole week, was there the slightest sign of anything like lovemaking between them.

From The Book of the Bush Containing Many Truthful Sketches Of The Early Colonial Life Of Squatters, Whalers, Convicts, Diggers, And Others Who Left Their Native Land And Never Returned by J. Macfarlane

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training