Valentine
What it means
A person chosen to receive affection or romantic attention.
Reach for it when referring affectionately to the person singled out for romantic attention
Sam surprised his valentine with a thoughtful handwritten poem.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| literary |
-
playful
crush
Fits when informal one-sided attraction is intended
Careful Crush names the desired person, not a mutual bond.
-
everyday
admirer
Fits when the giver of attention is being identified
Careful An admirer is not necessarily the affection's recipient.
-
everyday
date
Fits when companionship for a particular occasion matters
Careful A date may involve no romantic commitment.
-
warm
Fits when established romantic fondness is explicit
Careful Sweetheart may feel dated or overly intimate.
-
professional
Fits when an ongoing relationship should be named neutrally
Careful Partner loses the seasonal, playful affection.
-
literary
Fits when deep cherished love suits elevated prose
Careful Beloved overstates a new attraction.
Opposites 3
- stranger
- rival
- rejecter
Common phrases 3
-
secret valentine
Her secret valentine left a poem without signing it.
-
childhood valentine
A childhood valentine became a lifelong friend.
-
be my valentine
The note asked, with gentle humor, be my valentine.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated