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Definitions

love

[luhv] / lʌv /






Usage

What are other ways to say love?

Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, or romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for love?
Where do we begin? Love is often classified and categorized in terms of what type of relationship is being discussed, such as with terms like romantic love and platonic love, or with fancier words like eros or agape. People who love each other romantically are said to be in love. Instantaneous love is called love at first sight. Love is often described in terms of how serious or deep it is, as in terms like true love and unconditional love, or whether it’s reciprocated, as in unrequited love. Synonyms for love that can imply varying levels of intensity or intimacy include fondness, affection, devotion, and adoration. Love is also used as a noun in the sense of a person you love or have loved romantically, as in She was my first love or It’s a story of two loves reunited. The word lover is sometimes used in the same way, but this typically implies a sexual relationship. The word love is also often used in the context of sex in euphemisms like make love. In more general contexts, we call the people we love loved ones. You might call someone my love as a term of endearment, much like my dear or my darling. Someone who is well loved is often described as beloved. As a verb, there are a few synonyms that are sometimes used for love, such as adore, admire, cherish, and even treasure. But many words don’t really capture the fullness and depth of what love can mean. For that, we usually look to the poets. Among the wisest said that Love is a battlefield. Others have said that Love is all you need (all you need is love). If you’ve been to a lot of weddings, you’ve heard that love is patient, love is kindlove never fails. Shakespeare didn’t say that Love is a many splendored thing, but he did say that Love sought is good, but given unsought is better. Love is a lot of things. Love is a four-letter word. LOVE is a sculpture in Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love—not to be confused with the other City of Love). In tennis, love is nothing. In life, love is everything. Some people see love as a feeling, an emotion. Others see it as an action. In this sense, perhaps the closest synonym for love is work. That’s what’s meant when it’s said that Love is a verb—love is a doing word. Sometimes, there’s no other word for it, no better way to say it: love is love.
What is a stronger word for love?
Synonyms for love tend to capture only some aspects or elements of love. The verb adore means to feel intense love for someone—and adoration can be mutual. Still, despite how common the word is, and how easily it gets tossed around, love is often the strongest word you can use. I love you may be a set phrase, but there really is no equal for it. Perhaps the strongest way to use the word love is not just to say it, but to prove you mean it by showing it. Of course, love is also commonly used as a way of saying you really like something, as in I love your shoes! In this case, love is the stronger word. Perhaps an even stronger way to say this is by avoiding a love/like construction altogether. For example, instead of saying I love your shoes, you could say Your shoes are fabulous! or Your shoes are EVERYTHING! or however you want to express how amazing they are.

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:

Then it hacked the module that enforces blind obedience and embarked on a long journey to becoming human, with a full set of emotions spanning love, grief and . . . just kidding.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 15, 2026

She continued: “He was a true and noble gentleman, wrapped up in my dream leading man. I will love you forever, Dr. Alan Grant.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 15, 2026

Walt Whitman, who wrote this entire country into being in the first person, and signed his love letters to another man with a kiss.

From Salon Jul. 15, 2026

"I'm still going to gigs, love to see new artists."

From BBC Jul. 15, 2026

“The good times can never excuse the bad, and love and kindness should never be a reward for good behavior. Doing things for others so they’ll approve of and love you isn’t love.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Tom Brady, and I say this as a man who loves him, who was never the loudest voice in any room he dominated, only the most prepared.

From Salon Jul. 15, 2026

Eric Smith, a military veteran from Shakopee, Minn., who loves to travel, is interested in investing — but he doesn’t want to spend his retirement “screwing around” with numbers or trying to time the market.

From MarketWatch Jul. 14, 2026

It should be an easy decision, particularly since Sybylla loves him and Neill makes him so irresistible.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 13, 2026

"In Norway, a talented player is a player who loves the game the most - a player who has ownership for his own development and who takes ownership for the team's development," added Grottland.

From BBC Jul. 11, 2026

“My mom loves debate, though. She even named me after one.”

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

The commercial arrived tied to a UFC fight card staged on the White House lawn, and plenty of people loved it.

From Salon Jul. 15, 2026

The Lins Law Group in Tampa, Fla., says your problem is not an unusual one: “Not uncommonly, we have clients come into the office after a loved one has died and ask for some assistance.”

From MarketWatch Jul. 15, 2026

Ahead of the debate, Sir Keir said the "landmark law" was "a tribute to the incredible families and campaigners who have spent decades and decades fighting to get justice for their loved ones".

From BBC Jul. 14, 2026

“We love her, and we want her to feel the full strength of the community that has loved and supported her for so many years.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2026

Marlene loved it when people offered her tidbits.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

The Ingalls folk, after all, are warm, loving, American and, as such, inclined to take a road trip.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 9, 2026

At a state Senate committee hearing last month, Haney said the bill would allow “vulnerable animals, many of whom have been victimized, from beginning the recovery they deserve in stable, loving homes.”

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 8, 2026

Her special power is foreign to most beings in that world: She is loving.

From Salon Jul. 8, 2026

Most people who have children still have them in the context of marriage, and many others have them in the context of a loving and stable relationship.

From Slate Jul. 6, 2026

Once more she tried to interest herself in the sweet misadventures of Edith-Anne Pevington, who not only lived with two loving and easily locatable parents but had her own pony to boot.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood




Vocabulary lists containing love


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