Definitions of love: A collection
I have struggled with understanding the true meaning of love for as long as I can remember. Is it what we see in fairytales? Is it what I have for my friends (though most of my friendships have not lasted past a few years)? I reached out to my family and friends to see what love means to them. We will circle back to what I have learned after you’ve read their definitions. (Initials are used for anonymity).
“Love is having respect for another, doing the extra things. It is knowing that saying ‘I do’ is a life-long commitment. It is looking out for that person and being there for them.” - D.J.
“The way love manifests itself changes over the years. The first kind is before you get married, when you are still just friends. The second is the love you have when you do get married, it is an other worldly feeling. When you have children it changes the orbit of where your love goes. As you get older, love is less ‘sparks flying’ and more of a companionship.” - J.J.
“ I think love is what gives us a sense of meaning and belonging. This goes back to the start of humanity, to when we lived in caves. We need each other against a world that wants to kill. Love makes us feel connected. It can be expressed in actions, but can never be truly expressed in words.” - U.D.
“I think the definition of love is being selfless, putting someone’s needs before yours and having total admiration for all that someone is and what they do. Love to me is something that can be truly uplifting, but at the same time it can ruin you.” - A.J.
“Love is doing something for someone even though you don’t enjoy it. You do it just because it makes them happy.” - J.S.
“ I’d say that love or to be loved is to be 100% known and still accepted for everything you are/they are, unconditionally.” - J.D.
“I would define love as a feeling of deep unconditional, selfless affection for someone or something.” - A.T.
“Love is the most powerful act and feeling. It can be the cause of the highest and lowest points of our lives. It can be when you see your child for the first time, kissing a parent goodbye, or it can be your friend buying you Taco Bell at 2 a.m. after the bar because you had too many vodka crans and only have a dollar to your name. It is selflessness and selfishness because you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.” - E.C.
“ I think that love means to be deeply committed to someone, in a way that you would do anything for them, cross any line, change anything etc. It also means to have a deep connection to someone that is unlike anything else. You want to do anything to make that person happy because seeing them happy, makes you happy.” - M.D.
“God is love.” - S.T.
“Love is agape; an unconditional love that transcends all circumstances.” - M.G.T.
“Love is deeply caring about someone or something’s wellbeing.” - K.F.
“Love is an action between two people where they sacrifice and provide for each other for mutual benefit.” - C.B.
“Love to me is a super intense feeling of wanting to always be around someone and wanting to do anything you can to make them happy. To the point that when they are sad, you are sad too. Love causes the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. That comes back to always wanting the person you love to be happy and being worried to lose them. It also makes it impossible to imagine your life without them because the people you love are such big parts of your life.” - R.Z.
“Love is simply being known.” - K.S.
“Love is willingly opening yourself up to someone and trusting that they will care for you as much if not more than you care about yourself. The image that comes into my head is opening up the safe, pulling out your head and heart and saying ‘I am trusting you with this’. “ - R.G.
“The sappy definition is: love is the want but not the need to sacrifice for the benefit of another. The fun definition is: love is giving someone your last McDonald’s french fry.” - T.D.
“All I can think of is what Shah Rukh Khan’s character in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai says. ‘If she can’t be my best friend, I can’t be in love with her. Without friendship, there is no love. Simple. Love is friendship.’ (English translation).” - M.F.T.
We have reached the end of the definitions I have collected. Has this given me a clear definition of what love is? No. It has however, shown me that love is subjective. Love means different things to different people. Maybe the key is to find a partner who has the same definition as you do. Do you have a favorite definition in the collection? What does love mean to you?