Word
infatuation
Phoneticsin·fat·u·a·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌɪnˌfætʃuˈeɪʃən/
UK/ɪnfˌætʃuːˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a strong feeling of love or attraction for someone that is usually short-lived. It is like a crush that you get very excited about but it does not last forever.
n. a strong but usually short-lived feeling of romantic or sexual attraction. Often carries a connotation of being obsessive or irrational.
Examples
“His infatuation with the new car lasted only a week.”
“The politician's sudden infatuation with the young actress caused a scandal in the media.”
“While the initial infatuation with the project was intense, the team eventually realized that the long-term benefits were far less significant than the initial excitement suggested.”
Examples
simple
“His infatuation with the new car lasted only a week.”
contextual
“The politician's sudden infatuation with the young actress caused a scandal in the media.”
complex
“While the initial infatuation with the project was intense, the team eventually realized that the long-term benefits were far less significant than the initial excitement suggested.”
Real-World Examples
“An infatuation with the idea of Lilac, with her public persona and her authorial voice, is complicated by a first glancing and then apparently deepening encounter with the real thing.” “He overcame all that, in addition to his onetime wavering faith and even an infatuation with Malcolm X and the Black Power movement, to become one of the greatest conservatives in American history.” “But this is Peru and Toño’s particular infatuation is the vals , a Peruvian musical style that fuses the European waltz with African and indigenous Latin American traditions.” - 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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