lover

¹ American  

[luhv-er] / ˈlʌv ər /

noun

1. a person who is in love with another.

2. a person who has a sexual or romantic relationship with another.

3. a person with whom one conducts an extramarital sexual affair.

4. a person who has a strong enjoyment or liking for something, as specified.

   a lover of music.

   Synonyms:

   fan, enthusiast, devotee

5. a person who loves, especially a person who has or shows a warm and general affectionate regard for others.

   a lover of humankind.

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Lover ² American  

[luhv-er] / ˈlʌv ər /

noun

1. Samuel, 1797–1868, Irish novelist, painter, and songwriter.

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lover British  

/ ˈlʌvə /

noun

1. a person, now esp a man, who has an extramarital or premarital sexual relationship with another person

2. (often plural) either of the two people involved in a love affair

3. 1. someone who loves a specified person or thing

      a lover of music

   2. ( in combination )

      a music-lover

      a cat-lover

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Other Word Forms

• loverless adjective
• loverlike adjective
• nonlover noun

Etymology

Origin of lover

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; love + -er ¹

Example Sentences

We soon came upon one of those Little Free Libraries book lovers like me build out in front of their homes.

From Los Angeles Times

Its annual Belgian edition often features ambitious, creative stages and wild parties that draw music lovers from across the world.

From BBC

But she also had a string of lovers, who included blues singer Bo Diddley, the writer John Mortimer and notably the actor James Robertson Justice.

From BBC

We vote with our dollars and our opinions, and the modern movie lover is not afraid to express their thoughts.

From Salon

The lovers are on opposing sides of the English Civil War.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• admirer
• boyfriend
• companion
• girlfriend
• suitor
• sweetheart