amorous
Americanadjective
-
inclined or disposed to love, especially sexual love.
an amorous disposition.
- Synonyms:
- passionate, sensual
-
showing or expressing love.
an amorous letter.
- Synonyms:
- tender, fond, impassioned, loving, amatory
-
of or relating to love.
amorous poetry.
- Synonyms:
- erotic
-
being in love; enamored.
She smiled and at once he became amorous of her.
adjective
-
inclined towards or displaying love or desire
-
in love
-
of or relating to love
Other Word Forms
- amorosity noun
- amorously adverb
- amorousness noun
- nonamorous adjective
- nonamorously adverb
- nonamorousness noun
- unamorous adjective
- unamorously adverb
- unamorousness noun
Etymology
Origin of amorous
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin amōrōsus, equivalent to amor “love” + -ōsus -ose 1, -ous
Explanation
If you are shot with a mythological arrow by Cupid, the Greek god of love, you may find yourself feeling amorous. Amorous means having strong feelings of love, especially romantic love. Amorous words or glances show love or desire. This adjective is a Middle English word, borrowed from Middle French, from Medieval Latin amorosus, from Latin amor "love." A more literary and less common synonym is amatory.
Vocabulary lists containing amorous
All You Need is Love: Amor and Phil
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Romeo and Juliet
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Flea, was a little boy, his attraction to the trumpet was all-consuming and amorous.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
Wiser and more practical than those around her, Maomao is able to play forensic detective, prevent assassination attempts, suss out political intrigue, resist an amorous eunuch and even ingest bits of poison safely.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025
The results do not just overturn previous theories about amorous and peaceful meetings between groups of people.
From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2024
Her warm, even tone and clear diction became associated indelibly with the composer’s amorous page in the way that Kirsten Flagstad was with Isolde and Feodor Chaliapin with Boris Godunov.
From New York Times • Dec. 24, 2023
It h a menacing or amorous puff, similar to the grampus.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
