suitor
noun
suit·or ˈsü-tər 
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
- gallant
- swain
- wooer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 During the episode, Gabby Windey met suitor Erich's family during hometown dates. 
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 On this delightful synth-pop jam, the singer-songwriter narrates a simple story — in the midst of some romantic entanglement with a male suitor, Daya’s mind simply refuses to think about anyone other than her ex. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2022 Devi and Paxton's relationship is finally setting sail, but the waters look a bit rough with a new potential suitor on the horizon. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 28 July 2022 The New York Knicks have long been considered a potential suitor. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2022 Given all this hustling and Musk's stated intention of dumping his Twitter shares if the board rejected his bid, Twitter had little time to find another suitor, even if there was one in the wings. Anne Sraders, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2022 Blanche sent a bouquet of chrysanthemums and a desperate note to her former suitor’s bedside. April White, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2022 While the new Prime Video comedy Harlem presents plenty of love interests for its four leading ladies, there is one suitor that star Meagan Good had to look away from — her former Cousin Skeeter costar, Robert Ri'chard. Marcus Jones, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2021 Manchester United were previously De Jong's only suitor, as their new coach Erik ten Hag longed for a reunion with his former Ajax charge. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 On this delightful synth-pop jam, the singer-songwriter narrates a simple story — in the midst of some romantic entanglement with a male suitor, Daya’s mind simply refuses to think about anyone other than her ex. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2022 Devi and Paxton's relationship is finally setting sail, but the waters look a bit rough with a new potential suitor on the horizon. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE.com, 28 July 2022 The New York Knicks have long been considered a potential suitor. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 June 2022 Given all this hustling and Musk's stated intention of dumping his Twitter shares if the board rejected his bid, Twitter had little time to find another suitor, even if there was one in the wings. Anne Sraders, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2022 Blanche sent a bouquet of chrysanthemums and a desperate note to her former suitor’s bedside. April White, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2022 While the new Prime Video comedy Harlem presents plenty of love interests for its four leading ladies, there is one suitor that star Meagan Good had to look away from — her former Cousin Skeeter costar, Robert Ri'chard. Marcus Jones, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2021 Manchester United were previously De Jong's only suitor, as their new coach Erik ten Hag longed for a reunion with his former Ajax charge. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
suitor
noun
suit·or ˈsü-tər
: a man who tries to get a woman to marry him
Legal Definition
suitor
noun
suit·or ˈsü-tər
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
Wall Street Journalsuitors
noun
1
as in boyfriends
a man who courts a woman usually with the goal of marrying her my sister finally married her suitor of six years on Sunday Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- boyfriends
- wooers
- lovers
- swains
- gallants
- men
- fellows
- sweethearts
- admirers
- beaus
- beaux
- sweeties
- dates
- significant others
- dears
- beloveds
- crushes
- flames
- fiancés
- favorites
- darlings
- sparks
- valentines
- squeezes
- old men
- sweets
- escorts
- honeys
- loves
- steadies
- intendeds
- sweetie pies
2
as in suppliants
one who asks earnestly for a favor or gift the inventor had several suitors for his patent, but he wasn't interested in dealing with a big company Synonyms & Similar Words
- suppliants
- petitioners
- supplicants
- beggars
- pleaders
- solicitors
- requesters
- mendicants
- panhandlers
- cadgers
- suers
- moochers
- schnorrers
- askers