Synonyms love
love ▪ like ▪ be fond of somebody ▪ adore ▪ be devoted to somebody ▪ care for somebody ▪ dote on somebody
These words all mean to have feelings of liking or caring for somebody.
love to have strong feelings of caring for somebody:
I love you.
like to find somebody pleasant and enjoy being with them:
She’s nice. I like her.
be fond of somebody to have warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time:
I’ve always been very fond of your mother.
adore to love somebody very much:
It’s obvious that she adores him.
be devoted to somebody to love somebody very much and support them in everything:
They are devoted to their children.
care for somebody to love somebody, especially in a way that is based on a feeling of liking them very much or wanting to protect them, rather than sex:
He cared for her more than she realized.
Care for somebody is often used when somebody has not told anyone about their feelings or is just starting to be aware of them. It is also used when somebody wishes that somebody loved them, or doubts that somebody does: If he really cared for you, he wouldn’t behave like that.
dote on somebody to feel and show great love for somebody, ignoring their faults:
He dotes on his children.
Patterns
to really love/like/adore/care for/dote on somebody
to be really/genuinely fond of/devoted to somebody
to love/like/care for somebody very much