incipient love

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incipient love" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the early stages or beginnings of romantic feelings between individuals. Example: "Their relationship blossomed from a friendship into something deeper, marked by an incipient love that neither of them could ignore."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The standing male nude of "Young Man" echoes the pose of the "Kritios Boy," the early Classical Greek sculpture thought to be the first instance of contrapposto, but he is clearly a 21st-century nerd: unsteady on his feet, with sloping shoulders, incipient love handles and a slightly too-large head, partly a result of thick hair and a full beard.

The New York Times - Arts

An incipient love triangle involving Bo, Gustavo and Sam does not generate much intensity, though we do learn that Gustavo is a winemaker of such skill that one sip of his best red will inspire a woman to jump into bed with him.

The New York Times

In the past I've had issues with aspects of this "Nutcracker," particularly its materialism (it was created in the Reagan era, after all) and tendency to infantilize, boosted partly by Joffrey's choice to obscure Clara's incipient love interest in favor of a father figure.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The story, briefly: Kenai, the youngest of three brothers, is disgruntled when he is presented with a totem of his incipient manhood, a carved bear symbolizing love.

The New York Times

"He loved the feeling of incipient catastrophe".

The Guardian

A steel guitar affectingly frames Musgraves's voice, which for all its piercing youth already harbors a creak of incipient regret as she invites a bedmate over: "Maybe I love you/Maybe I'm just kind of bored/It is what it is/Til it ain't/Anymore".

The New York Times - Magazine

They loved absolutely everything about his work: its country-gentleman naturalism, its neoclassical poise, its air of incipient nostalgia.

The New York Times - Arts

After a busy opening act, which features a nifty slapstick bout of wrestling and all that anyone needs to know about the incipient sweethearts Rosalind and Orlando, the play settles down into the woods for a contrasting series of humorous interludes concerning love in rural surroundings.

The New York Times

The doctors diagnosed incipient schizophrenia.

The Economist

That highlights an incipient trend.

The Economist

They failed to consider incipient heart disease.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incipient love" to describe the very early stages of romantic feelings, when they are just beginning to develop and are not yet fully formed. This adds a touch of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "incipient love" in overly casual or informal settings. It can sound pretentious or out of place. Opt for simpler terms like "budding romance" or "new affection" in everyday conversation or less formal writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incipient love" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "incipient" modifies the noun "love". As seen in Ludwig's examples, it describes the early or initial stage of romantic feelings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incipient love" is a phrase used to describe the early stages of romantic feelings. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, although relatively rare, with examples primarily found in news and media contexts. While phrases like "budding romance" or "emerging affection" may be more common, "incipient love" offers a more formal and precise way to depict the dawning of romantic emotions. When writing, consider your audience and context; while the phrase is appropriate for news articles or creative writing, it may sound out of place in casual conversations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Budding romance

Focuses on the growth and development aspect of the romantic feelings.

Nascent affection

Emphasizes the newness and tenderness of the feelings.

Emerging fondness

Highlights the gentle and affectionate nature of the developing feelings.

Dawning love

Conveys the sense of realization and beginning of love.

Growing attraction

Focuses on the pull and interest one person has for another.

Fledgling romance

Implies the fragility and newness of the romantic connection.

Developing affection

Stresses the ongoing process of feelings becoming stronger.

Early infatuation

Suggests a strong but potentially short-lived passion.

New love

Simply emphasizes the recent start of the relationship.

Initial attraction

Highlights the very first stages of being drawn to someone.

FAQs

What does "incipient" mean in the context of love?

In the context of love, "incipient" refers to the beginning stages or early development of romantic feelings. It describes love that is just starting to emerge.

What can I say instead of "incipient love"?

You can use alternatives like "budding romance", "nascent affection", or "emerging fondness" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "incipient love" a common phrase?

"Incipient love" is not as common as simpler phrases like "new love" or "budding romance", but it's understood and used in more formal writing to describe the early stages of romantic feelings.

How do I use "incipient love" in a sentence?

You might say, "Their friendship blossomed into something more, revealing an "incipient love" that neither could deny", to illustrate the early development of their romantic connection.