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Synonyms

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.
Lover 2 American  
[luhv-er] / ˈlʌv ər /

noun

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

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

    1. someone who loves a specified person or thing

      a lover of music

    2. ( in combination )

      a music-lover

      a cat-lover
"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

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

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

The latest original film from Disney's Pixar tells the story of a young animal lover who uses technology to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver so she can better communicate and protect wildlife.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

At Mexico’s request, the CIA positioned an unarmed Predator drone over a Tapalpa vacation compound, where it observed a man exit a vehicle and warmly embrace Oseguera’s lover, according to people familiar with the operation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

As a lover of dance music, the morning coffee rave was another way for people to connect and let loose, Collinge added.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Anyone could be an enemy or a lover — often, they’re both.

From Salon • Mar. 1, 2026

Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane’s happiness, and so dishonorable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its frequently occurring.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.