Limerence — a state of strong romantic infatuation in which thoughts about a person become obsessive, and reciprocity feels vitally important.
What it means
The term was introduced by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in the 1970s. Limerence describes not so much mature love as the early phase of infatuation, with emotional swings: euphoria from signs of attention and anxiety in their absence. It is a natural state that usually fades over time and as real intimacy develops. It is important to distinguish limerence from lasting attachment, which is built on trust and shared experience rather than fantasy alone.
Example
A person catches themselves mentally returning all day to a recent conversation, rereading the messages, and shaping their own mood around the other person’s. That is a typical expression of limerence.
Related terms
Attachment, infatuation, emotional intimacy.
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