friends-to-lovers

noun

A trope in romance fiction (particularly fan fiction) involving the development of a friendship into romantic love.

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Meanings

nounfriends-to-lovers (uncountable)

alternative friends to lovers

  1. attributiveoftenuncountableA trope in romance fiction (particularly fan fiction) involving the development of a friendship into romantic love.

    A sparkling, warm romance that reminds us why the friends-to-lovers trope is superior!

    2022, Sarah Adams, praise blurb in Allison Ashley, Would You Rather, page 2
    2 more examples

    When I started the Mafia Moguls series, I knew I wanted a friends-to-lovers trope—one of my absolute favorite storylines.

    2016, Jules Bennett, From Friend to Fake Fiancé, page 2

    Between the classic friends-to-lovers trope, incredible dialogue, and undeniable chemistry between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, this is one film that you MUST watch.

    2021 February 5, Jessica Khorana, “The Top Ten RomComs To Watch On Valentine's Day”, in The Innis Herald, University of Toronto, page 11
Cite this entry
APA

friends-to-lovers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friends-to-lovers

MLA

“friends-to-lovers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friends-to-lovers. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “friends-to-lovers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friends-to-lovers.

Source: friends-to-lovers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.