affectionate
gb/əfˈɛkʃənɪt/ us/əfˈɛkʃənɪt/
B1
English
~ 3700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Showing love or fondness
Showing that you like or love someone in a warm way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is affectionate toward [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'affectionate' with 'affective', which relates to emotions in psychology but is not used for describing warmth in relationships.
Synonyms
loving (Strongly expresses love, often more intense than 'affectionate'.)
|
caring (Focuses more on concern for someone's well-being rather than warmth or tenderness.)
Antonyms
cold (Lacking warmth or friendliness in manner or feelings.)
|
distant (Emotionally detached or reserved toward others.)
Collocations
deeply affectionate
|affectionate smile
|affectionate hug
|affectionate nickname
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She gave her grandmother an affectionate hug before leaving.
- Mark is very affectionate with his children, always telling them he loves them.
- The puppy is so affectionate that it follows me everywhere.
- He wrote an affectionate letter to his best friend.
- They sat close together, exchanging affectionate glances.
Learner examples
- My cat is very affectionate.
- She is affectionate to her little brother.
- He gave an affectionate smile.
- The dog is friendly and affectionate.
Grammar
Dictionary form
affectionate
IPA
GB/əfˈɛkʃənɪt/
US/əfˈɛkʃənɪt/
Syllables & stress
af - fec - tion - ate (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fec)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: affectionate
Word family
Core family
affection
noun B1
affectionately
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unaffectionate
adjective
Advanced or less common
affectionateness
noun
Expressions
an affectionate gesture
1/ən əfˈɛkʃənɪt d͡ʒˈɛst͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
Small act showing love or care
A small action that shows you like or love someone.
Examples
- Giving her a flower was an affectionate gesture.
- He put his arm around her in an affectionate gesture.
be affectionate toward
1/bˈi əfˈɛkʃənɪt təwˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
Show love or warmth to someone
To act in a warm and loving way toward someone or something.
Examples
- He is always affectionate toward his grandparents.
- She was affectionate toward her students, often giving them encouragement.