Meaning & use
ex-boyfriend
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Meaning
nouncountableinformal
A man with whom someone used to have a romantic relationship but no longer does.
Grammar: Countable: her ex-boyfriend, my two ex-boyfriends.
Patterns
- someone's ex-boyfriend
- an ex-boyfriend of someone
She ran into her ex-boyfriend at the supermarket.
My ex-boyfriend still lives in the same building.
He remained friends with his sister's ex-boyfriend.
Word forms
| plural | ex-boyfriends |
|---|
Common combinations
- former ex-boyfriend
- They avoided talking about her ex-boyfriend.
- jealous ex-boyfriend
- A jealous ex-boyfriend caused trouble at the party.
- run into an ex-boyfriend
- I ran into an ex-boyfriend on the train.
- stay friends with an ex-boyfriend
- She stayed friends with an ex-boyfriend after the breakup.
- text an ex-boyfriend
- He told her not to text an ex-boyfriend late at night.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ex
- Ex is the short, casual form and can refer to either gender.
- former partner
- Former partner is neutral and formal, and also suits long-term or married relationships.
- old flame
- Old flame is affectionate and suggests a strong past romance, while ex-boyfriend is simply factual.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: ex-boyfriend or ex-husband? ex-boyfriend or old boyfriend?
ex-boyfriend vs ex-husband
An ex-husband was legally married to the person, while an ex-boyfriend was not.
ex-boyfriend vs old boyfriend
Old boyfriend usually means the same, but can suggest a man who is simply older.
Practice
Which sentence correctly uses ex-boyfriend?
Choose one answer.
Ex-boyfriend means a former partner, so blocking his number after a breakup fits. The other options describe a current relationship.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ex-boyfriend”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.