What does "cupid" mean?
A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
Cupid
/ˈkjuːpɪd/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
- Grammar: cupid is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agdistis, amor, amor, aphrodite.
- Useful contrasts: adult, blocker, hatred.
- Usage evidence: Well, Cupid is a terrible sniper.
How to use "cupid"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cupid" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cupid" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cupid" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cupid" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cupid" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agdistis" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cupid", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A putto carrying a bow and arrow, representing Cupid or love.
"The half-dozen pieces […] were painted white and carved with festoons of flowers, birds and cupids. To display them the walls had been tinted a vivid blue which had now faded, but the carpet, which had evidently been stored and recently relaid, retained its original turquoise."
- 2 a symbol for love in the form of a cherubic naked boy with wings and a bow and arrow wordnet
- 3 Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genera Chilades, Cupido and Everes.
Proper Noun
- 1 The god of love, son of Venus; sometimes depicted as a putto (a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow). The Roman counterpart of Eros. Roman
"The myth of Cupid and Psyche was one of the most influential romances in European culture."
- 2 Sudden love or desire; the personification of falling in love. poetic
"He was just walking down the street minding his own business when Cupid struck."
- 3 A moon of Uranus.
"Cupid is so small and far away that it can only be seen with the Hubble Space Telescope."
- 4 The sixth reindeer of Santa Claus.
Antonyms
Example
"Well, Cupid is a terrible sniper."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cupid"?
Common synonyms include: agdistis, amor, amor, aphrodite, apollo, apollon.
How do you use "cupid" in a sentence?
Well, Cupid is a terrible sniper.
How do you pronounce "cupid"?
Pronounced /ˈkjuːpɪd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Latin Cupīdō, personification of cupīdō (“desire, desire of love”), from cupidus (“eager, greedy, passionate”), from cupiō (“to desire”).
Etymology 2
From Cupid.