What does enamored mean?
Enamored describes someone who is filled with love, admiration, or intense liking for a person or thing. Most often used after a linking verb — 'she was enamored with him', 'he was enamored of the idea' — it takes the prepositions 'with', 'of', or sometimes 'by'. The word can express romantic devotion, but it also covers enthusiastic fondness for objects, places, plans, or styles, as in being enamored with vintage cars. Its connotation is warm and admiring, though it frequently appears in understated negative constructions like 'the critics were less than enamored with the film', where it signals polite disappointment. The adjective comes from the verb enamor, ultimately from Old French 'enamourer' and Latin 'amor', meaning love. Common in literary, journalistic, and formal contexts, it offers a more elegant alternative to 'crazy about' or 'keen on'. Related forms include enamor (verb) and enamoredness, and British English prefers the spelling enamoured. Whether describing infatuation or mere enthusiasm, enamored conveys genuine captivation rather than casual approval.
Filled with love, admiration, or strong liking for a person or thing; captivated.
"Visitors were instantly enamored with the old town's cobbled streets."
Typically used predicatively ('was enamored of/with'), rarely before a noun.
Past participle of 'enamor': to have charmed or filled with love.
"He had been enamored by her wit long before they met."
Usually appears in passive constructions; the active form 'to enamor someone' is now uncommon and literary.
'Enamored' carries French romance in its bones — from Old French 'enamourer', rooted in Latin 'amor', love itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enamored
Enamored derives from the verb 'enamor', which entered Middle English via Old French 'enamourer', formed from 'en-' plus 'amour', ultimately from Latin 'amare', to love, and 'amor', love. The past participle hardened into an adjective meaning filled with love. It shares its root with words such as 'amorous', 'amatory', 'amateur', and 'amiable', all tracing back through Romance languages to that Latin core. British spelling retains the French-derived 'u' in 'enamoured', reflecting the older verb form 'enamour'.
Related word forms
How enamored is actually used
Standard in formal and literary registers; in everyday speech 'smitten with' or 'into' often replaces it. British English typically spells the related verb 'enamour', giving the adjective 'enamoured'. The preposition varies by region: American usage favors 'with' or 'of', while 'enamored of' sounds more traditional. Often used negatively ('less than enamored') to express polite disapproval.