ENGLISH
REFERENCE

exes

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛksɪz// UK //ˈɛksɪz// ex·es Slang

n. people you used to be in a romantic relationship with. It is a short way of saying 'ex-boyfriends' or 'ex-girlfriends'.

n. former romantic partners, such as former spouses or significant others. Often used in casual conversation to refer to multiple past partners collectively.


SIMPLE

She is still friends with most of her exes.

CONTEXTUAL

He decided to delete all photos of his exes from his social media accounts to start fresh.

COMPLEX

Navigating a social circle where several of your exes are present requires a high degree of emotional maturity and clear boundaries to avoid unnecessary drama.

Synonyms
Usage

Plural form of the prefix 'ex' used as a standalone noun; takes plural verb agreement.

© 2026 English Reference