Loving — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈlə-viŋ/ lov·ing

Meaning & Definition of Loving

Loving (adjective)

  1. affectionate
  2. painstaking

Loving (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. feeling or showing love

    "they were a loving family, supporting each other when times were bad"

    similar: adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, tender, tenderhearted
    related: caring, compassionate, considerate, cordial, doting, forgiving, friendly, humane, kind, understanding, warmhearted, ardent, fervent, impassioned, passionate, warm, amatory, amorous, erotic, enamored, infatuated, lovesick, lovey-dovey, mushy, romantic, sappy, sentimental, brotherly, fatherly, motherly, sisterly
    opposite: unloving
    near: aloof, antisocial, cold-eyed, cool, detached, distant, dry, frosty, hard-hearted, indifferent, offish, pitiless, remote, reserved, standoffish, unbending, uncaring, unfeeling, disaffected, unconcerned, uninvolved, cold, frigid, unfriendly, callous, cold-blooded, hard-boiled, heartless, ruthless, soulless, unromantic, unsentimental

  2. taking, showing, or involving great care and effort

    "the homemade costume clearly showed the loving work that had gone into it"

    similar: careful, conscientious, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, scrupulous
    related: assiduous, diligent, indefatigable, persevering, sedulous, exhaustive, thorough, thoroughgoing, alert, attentive, observant, vigilant, watchful, accurate, exact, precise, strict, critical, demanding, discriminating, exacting, fastidious, finicky, particular, cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded, heedful, mindful, wary, deliberate, plodding, slow, studied, thoughtful, all-out, determined, dogged, intensive, patient, tenacious, tireless, zealous
    opposite: careless
    near: cursory, halfhearted, heedless, inattentive, incautious, mindless, regardless, unguarded, unsafe, unwary, lax, neglectful, negligent, slipshod, sloppy, slovenly, imprecise, inaccurate, uncritical, undemanding, undiscriminating, bold, impetuous, rash, reckless, apathetic, indifferent, lackadaisical, lazy, lazyish

Loving (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold dear

    "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it"

    similar: appreciating, cherishing, prizing, treasuring, valuing, setting store by
    related: delighting (in), digging, enjoying, fancying, grooving (on), liking, relishing, reveling (in), admiring, apprizing, esteeming, regarding, respecting, reverencing, revering, venerating, enshrining, memorializing, adoring, caressing, doting (on), idolizing, worshipping
    opposite: disvaluing
    near: undervaluing, abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting, execrating, hating, loathing, disdaining, high-hatting, scorning, scouting, slighting, sniffing (at), snubbing, bad-mouthing, belittling, crying down, decrying, deprecating, depreciating, disparaging, kissing off, minimizing, putting down, writing off, abandoning, forgetting, neglecting

  2. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "a husband who loves his wife more than anything"

    similar: adoring, cherishing, worshipping, carrying a torch (for), falling for, losing one's heart (to)
    related: adulating, canonizing, deifying, idealizing, idolizing, reverencing, revering, venerating, delighting (in), doting (on)
    opposite: abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting, execrating, hating, loathing
    near: antagonizing, displeasing, disapproving (of), disfavoring, disliking, disgusting, nauseating, repelling, repulsing, revolting, sickening, turning off

  3. to take pleasure in

    "I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain"

    similar: adoring, delighting (in), digging, enjoying, fancying, getting off (on), grooving (on), liking, rejoicing (in), relishing, reveling (in), savoring, being partial to, getting a kick out of, going for, having a soft spot for, taking to
    related: admiring, appreciating, cherishing, revering, venerating, worshipping, prizing, treasuring, valuing, devouring, drinking (in), eating (up), feasting (on), doting (on), idolizing, cottoning (to), favoring, preferring, indulging (in), luxuriating (in), wallowing (in)
    near: abhorring, abominating, detesting, disliking, hating, loathing, condemning, despising, scorning

  4. to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

    "the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back"

    similar: caressing, fondling, gentling, patting, petting, stroking
    related: billing, canoodling, cuddling, necking, nestling, nosing, nuzzling, snuggling, spooning, feeling up, pawing, cradling, embracing, enfolding, hugging, bouncing, dandling, kneading, massaging, babying, coddling, indulging, mollycoddling, pampering, spoiling

Related Entry: Love (verb)

Love is a different word from Loving. The synonyms below are for love, not for loving.

  1. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "a husband who loves his wife more than anything"

    similar: adore, cherish, worship, carry a torch (for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)
    related: adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, delight (in), dote (on)
    opposite: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe
    near: antagonize, displease, disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike, disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

  2. to hold dear

    "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it"

    similar: appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value, set store by
    related: delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in), admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate, enshrine, memorialize, adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship
    opposite: disvalue
    near: undervalue, abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub, bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off, abandon, forget, neglect

  3. to take pleasure in

    "I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain"

    similar: adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, rejoice (in), relish, revel (in), savor, be partial to, get a kick out of, go for, have a soft spot for, take to
    related: admire, appreciate, cherish, revere, venerate, worship, prize, treasure, value, devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on), dote (on), idolize, cotton (to), favor, prefer, indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in)
    near: abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe, condemn, despise, scorn

  4. to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

    "the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back"

    similar: caress, fondle, gentle, pat, pet, stroke
    related: bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon, feel up, paw, cradle, embrace, enfold, hug, bounce, dandle, knead, massage, baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

Related Entry: Self-loving (adjective)

Self-loving is a different word from Loving. The synonyms below are for self-loving, not for loving.

  1. overly concerned with one's own desires, needs, or interests

    "she's too self-loving an individual to ever have feelings of real love for another person"

    similar: egocentric, egoistic, egomaniacal, egotistic, narcissistic, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-concerned, self-infatuated, self-interested, self-involved, self-obsessed, self-oriented, self-preoccupied, self-regarding, self-seeking, self-serving, selfish, solipsistic
    related: inner-directed, complacent, conceited, overweening, pompous, prideful, proud, self-complacent, self-conceited, self-contented, self-directed, self-glorifying, self-important, self-indulgent, self-opinionated, self-pleased, self-satisfied, smug, vain, vainglorious
    opposite: self-forgetful, self-forgetting, selfless, unselfish
    near: altruistic, beneficent, benevolent, charitable, generous, greathearted, humanitarian, magnanimous, philanthropic, self-denying, self-giving, self-sacrificing, other-directed, diffident, self-doubting, self-flagellating, self-questioning, self-reflective

Related Entry: Self-love (noun)

Self-love is a different word from Loving. The synonyms below are for self-love, not for loving.

  1. an often unjustified feeling of being pleased with oneself or with one's situation or achievements

    "nurtured a self-love that was far greater than any affection she ever felt for another person"

    similar: amour propre, bighead, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egotism, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-assumption, self-conceit, self-congratulation, self-esteem, self-glory, self-importance, self-opinion, self-satisfaction, smugness, swelled head, swellheadedness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vainness, vanity
    related: assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-confidence, self-righteousness, arrogance, disdainfulness, haughtiness, imperiousness, lordliness, self-assertion, snobbishness, superciliousness, superiority, hubris, overconfidence, presumption, pretense, pretension, pretentiousness, egoism, self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pride, self-respect
    opposite: humbleness, humility, modesty
    near: diffidence, self-doubt, self-disgust, self-hate, self-loathing, altruism, unselfishness, bashfulness, demureness, shyness, timidity, timidness, passiveness, passivity

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Loving

The most common words with a similar meaning to Loving:

adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, tender, tenderhearted, careful, conscientious, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, scrupulous, appreciating, cherishing, prizing, treasuring, valuing, worshipping, delighting (in), digging, enjoying, fancying, getting off (on), grooving (on), liking, rejoicing (in), relishing, reveling (in), savoring, caressing, fondling, gentling, patting, petting, stroking, setting store by, carrying a torch (for), falling for, losing one's heart (to), being partial to

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Loving

Words with the opposite meaning of Loving:

unloving, careless, disvaluing, abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting, execrating, hating, loathing

Related Words for Loving

caring, compassionate, considerate, cordial, doting, forgiving, friendly, humane, kind, understanding, warmhearted, ardent, fervent, impassioned, passionate, warm, amatory, amorous, erotic, enamored, infatuated, lovesick, lovey-dovey, mushy, romantic, sappy, sentimental, brotherly, fatherly, motherly

Near Antonyms of Loving

aloof, antisocial, cold-eyed, cool, detached, distant, dry, frosty, hard-hearted, indifferent, offish, pitiless, remote, reserved, standoffish, unbending, uncaring, unfeeling, disaffected, unconcerned, uninvolved, cold, frigid, unfriendly, callous, cold-blooded, hard-boiled, heartless, ruthless, soulless

Word Forms of Loving

Derived words: lovingly (adverb), lovingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Loving

First known use: before 12th century

Words & Phrases Containing Loving

loving cup, loving-kindness, tender loving care

Frequently Asked Questions about Loving

What does "Loving" mean?

"Loving" means affectionate. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: affectionate. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Loving"?

Other words for "Loving" include adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, tender, tenderhearted, careful and conscientious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Loving" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Loving"?

There are 171 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Loving". Common alternatives include adoring, affectionate, devoted, fond, tender, tenderhearted, careful, conscientious, fussy and meticulous.

What is the opposite of "Loving"?

Antonyms of "Loving" include unloving, careless, disvaluing, abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting and execrating. Near antonyms include aloof, antisocial, cold-eyed and cool.

How do you use "Loving" in a sentence?

Examples of "Loving" in a sentence: "they were a loving family, supporting each other when times were bad"; "the homemade costume clearly showed the loving work that had gone into it"; "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it".

Is "Loving" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Loving" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Loving"?

"Loving" is pronounced /ˈlə-viŋ/ and divided into syllables as lov·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Loving"?

First known use: before 12th century.