First Love: Meaning, Usage & Examples

Term: first love
Pronunciation: /fɜːrst lʌv/
Part of Speech: Noun phrase

Definition: The first significant experience of romantic affection and emotional attachment, often memorable and formative.

Simple Explanation

First love is the first time you feel deep, lasting romantic feelings for someone—often unforgettable.

Grammatical Formation

Noun phrase: first love
- “Her first love was her high school classmate.”
Plural: first loves (rare)

Synonyms

initial romance, early love, first romance, youthful love, maiden love

Antonyms

final love, lasting devotion, mature love, indifferent attachment

Related Terms

crush, infatuation, puppy love, teenage romance, lasting affection, love at first sight

Common Collocations

remember one’s first love
experience first love
revisit first love
first love never dies
first love story

Idiomatic Usage & Expressions

“Love at first sight” – immediate, visceral first love.
“First love never fades” – saying that first love remains in memory.
“Carry one’s first love in one’s heart” – to cherish that memory forever.

Sample Sentences

He still writes poetry about his first love from college.
Many say that first love leaves the deepest impression.
Her first love taught her what real devotion feels like.
They reconnected years later to revisit their first love.
Even in marriage, he fondly recalls his first love’s laughter.

Relationship to Sexuality

✅ First love often involves both emotional and emerging physical attraction, marking a young person’s initial exploration of romantic and sexual feelings.

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