What is the difference between being infatuated and being in love?

Some people realize the word love means too much, so it’s best not to use it. If you say you’re infatuated, this may mean the person understands that their feelings are only because the relationship is new and it’s possible for those feelings to fade away.

@eiram: “If someone tells me they’re infatuated with me, what does it really mean? Why do they choose that word to describe their feelings instead of saying they’re in love with me?”

Why do you feel that the term “in love” is more descriptive than “infatuated with”? When someone says that they “love” you, you’re still left with a ton of interpretation. Often, we’re just left trying to apply situations in which we have used that term so we can understand what they are saying.

If you don’t know what “infatuated with” means – and you are uncomfortable with not knowing – ask. Hint: if s/he says that s/he is “in love” with you, you may be more comfortable with this, but you still have no idea what this means unless you ask.

In order to love, one must trust.
If someone is infatuated with you, it means you’re Hot, or a shiny new object, etc.. Infatuation may or may not lead to love. You won’t know till they trust you, or gain 20lbs if it’s love:-)

IMO, infatuation is superficial and fleeting. It’s the grown-up version of a crush.

But, @GladysMensch – Haven’t you ever had a crush on someone and it developed into love? I think that’s how second marriages come about sometimes….plus X-factors in failing first marriage.

Fact from fiction, truth from diction. Infatuation, in a nut shell, is predicated on how the person who is the catalyst presents themselves. It is about hair, clothes, physical features, street cred, etc. a hodgepodge of surface things that has no depth or legs. It is like going to the amusement park, it is exciting, colorful, festive, but after a time you get bored because there is no substance to it. Your home is not glamorous, in a general sense, but it is where your stuff is, your life’s anchor, where you feel safe and secure. Infatuation has no real commitment when things get rough, it is all about the good times never a focus on the rough, or day in day out grind of it. You can look at it this way:

Love is like owning.
Infatuation is like renting.

Love is like having the deed.
Infatuation is like having a rental agreement.

Love is like forever and a day.
Infatuation is like moment by moment.

Love is like your spouse is truly yours until death.
Infatuation is like it is just a mate until something else better comes.

Love is like wanting to move your furniture in and never leaving.
Infatuation is like moving as little in because you are scared you can’t move out.

Love is commitment.
Infatuation is having an exit strategy.

Love is more people who have made up their minds.
Infatuation is for those who are unsure and still thinking about it.

Love is like the full course meal.
Infatuation is like sampling food off the buffet tray.

Love is for those who feel they made the right choice.
Infatuation is for those who are scared they are making a mistake.

Love is like the meal that you leave the table wanting to undo your top button on your slacks, while infatuation always leaves you hungry no matter how much you eat.

@Blackberry nailed it I bet..

@tom_g I don’t necessarily think that “in love” is more descriptive. We all have our own definition of everything. Many people say they don’t know what love is, they don’t even know if it exist. I was just wondering about this term “infatuated with” vs. “in love with”, since I’m not a native English speaker, I was just curious to know how people would define these two things and the difference.

I’d say that if I had a very strong attraction to someone but I still had little idea about who they were. I’d be looking to see if the interest was reciprocated and if you had any desire to spend more time with me to figure out if there was going to be anything important between us.

I’m reasonably certain that most relationships exist (and at least start) due to infatuation, not love. I think that the term ‘love’ seems to get distorted by many. Infatuation is a liking or obsession that is usually due to certain conditions being met. Love on the other hand meams the unconditional caring and concern of another regardless of what they do or what flaws they have.

People say there are different types of love, but I disagree. There is only one type of love, and it doesn’t matter whether it is the natural parental type of love, friendship type of love or even the relationship type of love. In the end, despite various different facets of itself existing, love has only one true meaning.