# loving

/ˈɫəvɪŋ/ (US) · /lˈʌvɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/loving
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. affectionate

adjective · CEFR A2

showing a lot of love and care for someone.

For teachers: feeling or showing great care, affection, or fondness toward others.

- She sent a loving message to her parents to thank them for their help.
- The child grew up in a loving environment where emotional support was prioritized over material wealth.

### 2. the act of love

noun · CEFR B1

the act of showing or feeling love for someone.

For teachers: the action or state of feeling or expressing affection; often used as a gerund.

- A bit of loving and kindness can change someone's whole day.
- The poet spent his final years exploring the complexities of loving and being loved in return.

### 4. US legal case

noun · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

a famous US legal case that made it legal for people of different races to marry.

For teachers: a reference to the landmark 1967 U.S. Supreme Court case 'Loving v. Virginia', which invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage.

- The Loving decision was a major victory for civil rights in America.
- Legal scholars often cite the Loving case as a foundational precedent for the right to marriage under the Fourteenth Amendment.

Usage: Usually capitalized as 'Loving' and often followed by 'v. Virginia'.

Teaching tip: This is a specific historical and legal reference in the United States; it is not used as a general term for marriage elsewhere.

## Examples

- I am loving this new song.
- She is loving her new job because the team is so supportive and the work is creative.
- Despite the initial challenges of moving abroad, he found himself loving the local culture and the slower pace of life in the countryside.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.