enamored
C1Formal to neutral, literary
Definition
Meaning
Filled with a feeling of love, admiration, or strong attraction for someone or something.
Charmed or captivated by something to the point of obsession; having a strong positive bias or preference.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always used with the preposition 'of' (UK) or 'of/with' (US). Describes a temporary state of intense, often romantic or idealized, fascination. Can imply a lack of objectivity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English predominantly uses 'enamoured'. The prepositional usage: British English strongly prefers 'enamoured of', whereas American English accepts both 'enamored of' and 'enamored with'.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The word carries a somewhat literary, elevated tone.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but the word is not common in casual speech in either variety. More common in written texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be enamored of/with [someone/something]become enamored of/with [someone/something]remain enamored of/with [someone/something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have stars in one's eyes (for)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The CEO seemed enamored with the new, risky market strategy, despite the team's concerns.'
Academic
Used in literary or historical analysis. 'The Romantic poets were enamored of the sublime power of nature.'
Everyday
Used in personal narratives. 'She's completely enamored with her new puppy.'
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tale of the star-crossed lovers has enamoured audiences for centuries.
American English
- The sleek design of the new car immediately enamored the critics.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The adverbial form is not standard ('enamoredly' is not in use).
American English
- N/A. The adverbial form is not standard ('enamoredly' is not in use).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She is enamored with her new phone.
- He became enamored of the small, quiet village.
- The young diplomat was completely enamored of the local culture and customs.
- Critics were initially enamored with the director's bold visual style.
- Despite being initially enamored with the revolutionary ideology, she grew increasingly disillusioned over time.
- The architect remained enamored of classical forms, which he seamlessly integrated into his modernist designs.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a knight saying, 'I am MORE in love' (en-a-MOR-ed) with the princess every day.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE/ATTRACTION IS A SPELL (enchanted, captivated, charmed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'влюблённый' which is the default, neutral 'in love'. 'Enamored' is more specific and literary, suggesting a captivated or charmed state, not just generic love.
- Do not confuse with 'fascinated' ('очарованный'), which is less romantic.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: *'enamored by' (incorrect) vs. 'enamored of/with' (correct).
- Using it as a verb: *'He enamors her' (incorrect; it's an adjective).
- Misspelling: 'enamoured' (UK) vs. 'enamored' (US).
Practice
Quiz
Which prepositional usage is generally considered correct in British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily an adjective (He is enamored). It has an archaic/rare verb form (to enamor).
Traditionally, 'enamored of' is preferred, especially in UK English. 'Enamored with' is common and accepted in American English. 'Enamored by' is incorrect.
It can be used for both. You can be enamored of a person, an idea, a place, or a thing (e.g., enamored of technology).
It is more formal and literary than casual synonyms like 'crazy about' or 'into'. It is common in writing and descriptive speech.
Explore