Word
beau
US/ˈboʊ/
UK/bˈəʊ/
Definitions
01a boyfriend
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a male lover or boyfriend.
n. a male suitor or romantic partner. Often used in historical or literary contexts.
“In the old novel, the young woman waited for her beau to return from the city.”
“The protagonist spent the summer months entertaining various beaus, though none seemed to capture her genuine affection.”
Usage
The plural can be spelled either 'beaus' or 'beaux'.
Teaching tip
This sense is mostly found in older literature or used humorously today; learners should use 'boyfriend' or 'partner' in modern speech.
02a fashionable man
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Literary
n. a man who is very interested in wearing fashionable clothes and having good manners.
n. a man who excels in or is overly concerned with fashion, style, and social etiquette; a dandy.
“He was known as a beau of the highest order, never seen without a perfectly tied silk scarf.”
“The 18th-century social scene was dominated by beaus who spent hours on their appearance before attending the evening's festivities.”
Synonyms
03to court someone
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
v. to act as a boyfriend or to try to win someone's romantic interest.
v. to escort, court, or woo a romantic interest.
“He spent the entire evening beauing her around the ballroom.”
“It was expected that he would beau her to the opera, as their families had already discussed a potential match.”
Real-World Examples
“Timby extended her time in Ireland and documented much of it for her newfound following - but she didn't reveal anything about her new beau.” “However, leaked police documents allege that her car crash injuries were caused when her beau accelerated his car as she got in, dragging her across the pavement.” Etymology
Shortened from surname type given names such as Beauregard or Beaumont, or from the French word beau.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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