Definition and Meaning of “Teenage Crush”
Pronunciation: /ˈtiːnˌeɪdʒ krʌʃ/
Part of Speech: Noun (countable)
- Definition: A brief but intense infatuation or romantic attraction experienced by a young person (typically ages 13–19), often characterized by excitement, daydreaming, and nervousness.
Simple Explanation
A teenage crush is when a teenager feels a fluttery, excited liking for someone—often a classmate or friend—but it usually doesn’t last long.
Grammatical Formation
- Noun: teenage crush
- “She had a teenage crush on her English teacher.”
- Plural: teenage crushes
Synonyms
adolescent infatuation, school‑day crush, young crush, fledgling romance, puppy love
Antonyms
mature love, lasting affection, adultrelationship, deep commitment
Related Terms
crush, infatuation, puppy love, adolescent romance, early attraction
Common Collocations
- have a teenage crush
- nurse a teenage crush
- confess a teenage crush
- fade a teenage crush
- secret teenage crush
Idiomatic Usage & Expressions
- “Butterflies in the stomach” – the nervous excitement of a crush.
- “Puppy love” – another term for a young or teenage crush.
- “Daydream about someone” – typical of a teenage crush.
- “Crush it” (slang, unrelated) – to perform extremely well.
Sample Sentences
- He couldn’t concentrate in class because of his teenage crush on Mia.
- Most adults look back on their first teenage crush with nostalgia.
- She wrote poetry to express her teenage crush.
- That band became her teenage crush during summer camp.
- His teenage crush faded after he realized they had little in common.
Relationship to Sexuality
✅ Indirectly
A teenage crush often involves mild physical or romantic attraction as part of adolescent development. While generally innocent, it can be an early step toward understanding one’s emerging sexual and romantic orientation.
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