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Synonyms

lovesick

American  
[luhv-sik] / ˈlʌvˌsɪk /

adjective

  1. languishing with love.

    a lovesick adolescent.

  2. expressive of such languishing.

    a lovesick note.


lovesick British  
/ ˈlʌvˌsɪk /

adjective

  1. pining or languishing because of love

"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


Etymology

Origin of lovesick

First recorded in 1520–30; love + sick 1


Explanation

When someone's lovesick, they are broken-hearted or so distracted by love that it affects their daily life. You might be lovesick if your love took off for Bali (unless of course you have plans to take off for Bali too). There are many different reasons for being lovesick: a lovesick boy might have a crush on a girl who barely notices him, and a lovesick teenager could be overwhelmed by feeling such strong emotions for the first time. Your grandmother's collection of old letters might include the ones she wrote as a new, lovesick wife when your grandfather was in the Army. Lovesick dates from the sixteenth century.

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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:

One 25-page text seen by AFP suggested workers adopt the persona of "Abby", a lovesick 35-year-old Japanese woman.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2025

The age when Aduba, a theater actor who had barely been on TV, wowed viewers and critics as the lovesick, eloquent, unpredictable Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “OITNB.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025

And while Cecil was lovesick, Penelope was apparently sick of love.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2025

The point is the way that Gosling, fresh off his Kenaissance, gazes at the camera — and at Jody — with his trademark sleepy charisma, like he’s both lovesick and faintly amused.

From Seattle Times ● May 2, 2024

It’s cloudy now, like even the sun is trying to spare you the embarrassment of being seen walking hand in hand with the object of your unrequited affection like some lovesick puppy.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

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