lover

noun

lov·​er ˈlə-vər 

1

a

: a person in love

b

lovers plural : two persons in love with each other

2

: an affectionate or benevolent friend

3

: devotee

a lover of mystery novels

a lover of nature

4

a

: paramour

Her husband found a love letter from her lover.

b

: a person with whom one has sexual relations

He was her first lover.

Synonyms

• addict
• aficionado
• afficionado
• buff
• bug
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fan
• fanatic
• fancier
• fiend
• fool
• freak
• habitué
• habitue
• head
• hound
• junkie
• junky
• maniac
• maven
• mavin
• nut
• sucker

Examples of lover in a Sentence

His wife accused him of having a secret lover.

She left her husband and ran away with her lover.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film has become an event, a must-see for movie lovers. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2025

For meat lovers, the hearty Rabo de Toro oxtail braised for 24 hours. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2025

Animal lovers' hearts have been warmed by seeing a terrified dog slowly opening up to her rescuers and their gentle golden retriever. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025

Baldoni specifically alleged that Lively used her friendship with Swift to put pressure on him to comply with Lively’s re-write of a crucial scene in the domestic violence drama in which Lively and Baldoni play lovers. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing lover

• lover boy
• secret lover
• true lover's knot

Kids Definition

lover

noun

lov·​er ˈləv-ər 

1

a

: a person in love

b

plural : two persons in love with each other

2

: devotee

a lover of music

3

a

: paramour

b

: a person with whom one has sexual relations

Biographical Definition

Lover

biographical name

Lov·​er ˈlə-vər 

Samuel 1797–1868 Irish novelist