loving
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of loving
First recorded before 1000; Middle English lovyng; replacing Middle English lovende, Old English lufiende; see love, -ing 2
Explanation
Someone loving is affectionate and caring. Your loving grandmother might be your favorite grandparent because she clearly adores you. You can be a loving sister or a loving babysitter, and you can also describe kind things you do as loving, like the loving hug you give your sad friend or your uncle's loving gesture of sending your aunt flowers on her birthday. The adjective loving comes from the Old English lufian, "to love or approve," from the root lufu, "love, affection, or friendliness."
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.
But this stern, commanding figure is at odds with the deeply loving husband he has just become.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
The programme also saw her delve into rumours of a family murder and learn why her grandfather was put up for adoption, despite having loving parents and siblings.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Rarely can one film feel so observant of how our memories of a person and a time can change in the space between loving them and losing them.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
Vagner was the most loving, caring man I’d ever known, so I said yes.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
It's a long time I been loving folk.
From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon
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.
