lover

lover — noun

1. someone you share an intimate romantic connection with, often involving physical

1.nounB1
Definition

someone you share an intimate romantic connection with, often involving physical intimacy, though you are not husband and wife or married

Example

Élise introduced her lover, Mert, to her closest friends at a weekend dinner party.

introduce + lover + to + [person]

Roya had kept her lover a secret from her family for almost two years.

possessive + lover; collocation: keep [someone] a secret

Common collocations
  • secret lover
  • former lover
  • young lover
  • lover's quarrel
  • lover's lane
Synonyms
  • boyfriend / girlfriend

    More neutral and common in everyday conversation; implies an exclusive, recognised romantic relationship without the same emphasis on the sexual aspect.

  • partner

    Broader term that can describe a long-term romantic relationship, including marriage or civil partnership; less sexually loaded than 'lover'.

  • paramour

    Old-fashioned or literary term for a secret lover, especially of a married person; very rare in modern speech.

  • mistress

    Specifically a woman having a long-term sexual relationship with a married man; carries strong historical and gendered connotations.

Antonyms
  • stranger

    Someone you have no romantic or personal connection with.

Usage Note

Unlike 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend', 'lover' emphasises the sexual or intensely romantic side of a relationship and is commonly used for relationships where the two people do not live together full-time or are not openly recognised as a couple. It is also the usual term when one or both people are married to someone else.

Common Mistakes

She introduced her lover, Tom, as her friend from work.' (when meaning romantic partner).
She introduced her lover, Tom, as her boyfriend.
In many social contexts, calling someone your 'lover' can sound intimate or old-fashioned; 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' is more neutral.
My lover and I got married last summer.
My partner and I got married last summer.
After marriage, the term 'lover' is rarely used; 'spouse' or 'partner' is standard.

2. someone who has a very strong interest in or enthusiasm for a particular activit

2.nounB1
Definition

someone who has a very strong interest in or enthusiasm for a particular activity, subject, or type of thing

Example

Niran is a lifelong lover of jazz music and attends concerts whenever he can.

lover of + [subject]

The weekend market attracts art lovers from all over the region every Sunday morning.

compound: art lover / music lover / nature lover

Common collocations
  • art lover
  • music lover
  • nature lover
  • wine lover
  • animal lover
  • lover of [subject/thing]
Synonyms
  • fan

    More casual; implies enjoyment or admiration without the same depth of personal connection. Common for sports, celebrities, TV shows.

  • enthusiast

    Slightly more formal than 'fan'; suggests serious, informed interest with active participation ('car enthusiast').

  • devotee

    Implies dedication and loyalty, often with a hint of reverence; can sound formal or spiritual ('yoga devotee').

  • aficionado

    Borrowed from Spanish; implies expert-level knowledge and refined taste, especially for food, drink, or the arts ('coffee aficionado').

Antonyms
  • hater

    Someone who strongly dislikes something; informal and often used in online contexts.

  • critic

    Someone who judges or evaluates something, often with a negative or analytical stance.

Usage Note

When followed by 'of' and a noun ('lover of art', 'lover of books'), the tone can sound slightly formal or literary. In everyday speech, the compound form is more natural: 'art lover', 'music lover', 'nature lover', 'wine lover', 'animal lover'. Unlike 'fan', which can imply casual interest ('a fan of the show'), 'lover' suggests a deeper, more personal enthusiasm.

Common Mistakes

I'm a lover of soccer.
I'm a big soccer fan.
'Fan' is more natural for sports; 'lover' sounds overly intense or old-fashioned for casual recreational interests.
She's a lover of her job.
She loves her job.
'Lover' is not used for liking an activity you do; use 'love' as a verb instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Lover' and 'boyfriend/girlfriend' both describe romantic relationships, but 'lover' carries a stronger emphasis on the physical or intensely emotional bond. In everyday conversation, 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' is neutral and widely accepted, while 'lover' can sound dramatic, private, or old-fashioned — a couple might say 'This is my boyfriend, Owen,' but rarely 'This is my lover, Owen.' 'Partner' is the broadest term, covering dating, cohabiting, and married couples without revealing marital status. 'Paramour' and 'mistress' are literary or legalistic: 'paramour' suggests a secret affair, and 'mistress' specifically refers to a woman in a long-term sexual relationship with a married man. For example: 'She introduced him as her partner at the office party' sounds modern and neutral; 'She introduced him as her lover' would raise eyebrows.

boyfriend / girlfriendpartner ↗paramourmistress ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'lover' comes from Old English 'lufu' (love) plus the agent suffix '-er', meaning 'one who loves'. The romantic-partner sense appeared in the 1300s, and by the 1500s it was also being used for someone who loves a thing ('a lover of books'). The two core meanings — a person you love romantically, and a person who loves an activity — have both been in continuous use for centuries.