suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsü-tər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
Synonyms of suitornext
1
: one that petitions or entreats
2
: a party to a suit at law
3
: one who courts a woman or seeks to marry her
4
: one who seeks to take over a business

Synonyms of suitor

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Examples of suitor in a Sentence

He was her most persistent suitor, and she eventually agreed to marry him. An unwanted suitor is buying up the company's stock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Baby is fussy, so back to Mom to eat as suitor Robert Pattinson tries his shot at Anne Hathaway. — Zachary Pincus-Roth, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Manning committed to the Longhorns, over Georgia and other suitors, in June 2022. — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Potential suitors would also naturally be looking at what the future holds for the entertainment business at large. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The Old Hollywood starlet received eight engagement rings from her suitors, as some of them opted to give her other jewelry in lieu of a ring. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for suitor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sutour, suytour, follower, petitioner, from Anglo-French siuter, suytour, from Latin secutor follower, from sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suitor was in the 15th century

Rhymes for suitor

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Browse Nearby Words

suit oneself
suitor
suit-preference signal
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Cite this Entry

“Suitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suitor. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

suitor

noun
suit·​or ˈsüt-ər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
1
: one that petitions or pleads
2
: a party to a suit at law
3
: a man who courts a woman or seeks to marry her

Legal Definition

suitor

noun
suit·​or ˈsü-tər How to pronounce suitor (audio)
1
: a party to a suit
2
: one that seeks to take over a business
approved the merger before the suitor obtained a 10% stake—Wall Street Journal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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