Feeling an intense but short-lived love for someone; having an extreme, often unreasonable interest in something.
From the moment he met her at the party, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He was completely infatuated with her smile, her laugh, everything. His friends tried to warn him, but he wouldn’t listen to anyone.
This meaning is about a powerful romantic feeling that usually doesn’t last. Imagine a teenager who meets someone new at school. She can’t eat, can’t sleep, and talks about him nonstop. She’s infatuated — deeply attracted but not thinking clearly. This is being infatuated — consumed by intense feelings. You might say “he’s completely infatuated with her” or “she was infatuated with a boy she barely knew.” Or picture someone who falls for a stranger on holiday. For a week, it feels like love. But once they’re home, the feeling fades. The word carries a sense of blind passion. ✏️ Infatuation is different from real love — it’s intense but shallow, and it usually fades once you get to know the person better.
Vivid example: She had only spoken to him twice. But already she was completely infatuated with him. She checked his social media every hour and replayed their conversations in her head all day long.
This meaning is about being obsessively interested in something — not a person, but an idea, hobby, or trend. Imagine a friend who visits Italy and comes back infatuated with Italian culture. He starts cooking Italian food every night, learning the language, and planning his next trip. This is being infatuated with something — passionately absorbed by it. You might say “she’s infatuated with the idea of fame” or “he became infatuated with vintage cars.” Or picture a company so infatuated with new technology that they ignore what their customers actually want. The word suggests passion that goes beyond reason. ✏️ Unlike “passion” or “interest,” infatuated usually implies the feeling is too intense and may not be based on solid reasoning.
Vivid example: After watching one documentary about space, the boy became infatuated with the idea of becoming an astronaut. He covered his bedroom walls with posters of planets and read everything he could find about NASA.
Examples from the street:
“He’s completely infatuated with her — he can’t stop talking about her.” → He’s obsessively attracted to her — she’s all he thinks and speaks about
“Don’t confuse being infatuated with being in love.” → That intense, obsessive feeling at the start isn’t the same as real, deep love
“She became infatuated with the idea of moving to Paris.” → She got completely consumed by the fantasy of relocating — she couldn’t think about anything else
Infatuated with a person — VERY COMMON:
– infatuated with someone → intensely and often irrationally attracted to a person — VERY COMMON
– completely/totally/utterly infatuated → emphasising the overwhelming intensity of the attraction
– become/get infatuated with → start to develop an intense, obsessive attraction
– hopelessly/blindly infatuated → so consumed by attraction that judgement is lost
– infatuated by someone/something → less common variation; same meaning as “with”
Infatuated with an idea/thing:
– infatuated with the idea/notion of → consumed by an exciting but possibly unrealistic concept
– infatuated with a lifestyle/place/concept → irrationally obsessed with something beyond a person
Example Sentences
1. He’s been completely infatuated with his new colleague since the day she started
→ He’s been obsessively drawn to the woman who recently joined the team from the very first moment she walked in.
2. She became infatuated with him after just one date — she couldn’t stop checking her phone for his messages
→ After meeting him only once, she developed an intense fixation — she kept looking at her screen every few seconds hoping he’d written.
3. He was so blindly infatuated that he didn’t notice she was lying to him about everything
→ He was so consumed by his obsessive attraction that he failed to see she was being dishonest about every single thing.
4. It’s not real love — you’re just infatuated and it’ll pass in a few weeks
→ What you’re feeling isn’t genuine deep connection — it’s an intense short-lived obsession and it’ll fade before long.
5. The teenager was hopelessly infatuated with the lead singer and had posters all over her bedroom wall
→ The young girl was desperately obsessed with the frontman of the band and had covered every surface of her room with his pictures.
6. She became infatuated with the idea of living by the sea and quit her job on impulse
→ She got so consumed by the fantasy of a coastal lifestyle that she left her position without thinking it through.
7. He was utterly infatuated — sending flowers every day, writing poems, turning up unannounced
→ He was completely consumed by his obsession — delivering bouquets daily, composing verses, and showing up without warning.
8. Looking back, I realise I was infatuated with him, not in love — I didn’t even know the real him
→ In hindsight, I see that what I felt was an intense shallow obsession, not genuine affection — I never actually understood who he truly was.
9. The media became infatuated with the young actor after his debut film
→ The press developed an intense fascination with the newcomer following his first movie appearance.
10. She warned her daughter not to get infatuated with someone just because they’re good-looking
→ She cautioned her child against becoming obsessively attracted to a person based purely on their physical appearance.
Learner Examples
1. Some students become infatuated with learning grammar rules and forget that the real goal is to communicate naturally with other people
→ Certain learners get so obsessively focused on memorising language structures that they lose sight of the actual purpose — being able to talk freely and naturally with others.
2. It’s easy to get infatuated with the idea of becoming fluent overnight, but real progress takes consistent daily effort over months and years
→ It’s tempting to get consumed by the fantasy of mastering a language instantly, but genuine improvement demands steady, everyday practice stretched across a long period.
✔ Native usage tips
– “Infatuated” always implies it’s NOT real love — this is the most important thing to understand. When someone says “you’re infatuated,” they’re dismissing the feeling as shallow, temporary, and irrational. It’s never a compliment in romantic contexts — it suggests the person is blinded by attraction rather than experiencing genuine connection
– “With” is the only correct preposition for people — always say “infatuated with someone.” Never say “infatuated of,” “infatuated for,” or “infatuated about.” “Infatuated by” exists but is much less common
– Often used as a warning — parents, friends, and advisors frequently use this word to caution someone that their feelings are clouding their judgement. “You’re not in love, you’re just infatuated” is a classic line meant to bring someone back to reality
– “Infatuated” vs “obsessed” — both describe intense focus, but “infatuated” is specifically romantic or idealising, while “obsessed” is broader and darker. You can be obsessed with work, revenge, or cleanliness — but “infatuated” is almost always about a person or a romanticised idea
– Works for ideas and things too, not just people — you can be “infatuated with the idea of fame” or “infatuated with a city.” In these uses, it implies an unrealistic, idealised attraction — the person hasn’t thought things through properly
– Casual alternatives are more natural in everyday speech — in relaxed conversation, people say “crazy about,” “mad about,” “obsessed with,” or “have a massive crush on” rather than “infatuated with.” “He’s infatuated” sounds slightly analytical, as if you’re diagnosing someone’s emotions
– The noun is “infatuation” — this is equally common and follows the same patterns. “It’s just an infatuation” is a very natural way to dismiss someone’s intense but shallow feelings
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Besotted → similar meaning but slightly more literary and old-fashioned; implies being foolishly in love; “besotted with her” sounds more charming and less clinical than “infatuated with her”; more common in British English
– Smitten → lighter and more positive than “infatuated”; suggests being struck by sudden attraction but without the negative connotation of poor judgement; “he’s completely smitten” sounds sweet, while “he’s completely infatuated” sounds like a warning
– Obsessed → broader and more intense; can apply to anything, not just romance; carries a darker, more unhealthy connotation; “obsessed with her” sounds potentially threatening, while “infatuated with her” sounds foolish but mostly harmless