Standard Lemma guide

lovemaking

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: L AH1 V M EY0 K IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Sexual intercourse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, euphemistic, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Courtship; amorous advances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, dated, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his lovemaking disgusted her
  • he hadn't had any love in months
  • he has a very complicated love life

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sexual love, making love, love, love life

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: sexual activity, sexual practice, sex, sex activity

History

Etymology

From love + making.