How to Know if You Are In Love: 59 Signs You're Falling

Are you in love? How do you know?

Some say, “when you know, you know.” But falling in love can be scary, exhilarating, and then there’s that old “is it really love, or just infatuation?” question.

You ask, and the Internet answers.

The Biggest Signs You’re Falling in Love

We analyzed 15 articles^{[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15]} that rank for how do you know you love someone or signs you’re falling in love to get the big list of ways you can recognize if you’re in deep. Here’s what we found out.

There are 59 unique indicators that you’re catching feelings – and 15 BIG ones.

We looked at signs you’re in love according to psychology, according to science, and, of course, people who’ve been there.

The Big List of 59 Signs You’re Falling in Love

Disclaimer: The images used in this blog post have been generated or enhanced using artificial intelligence (AI) tools. While these images aim to represent the content accurately, they may not fully reflect real-life scenarios or specific details. Please use these images for illustrative purposes only.

01. You have physical symptoms

…like butterflies, you can’t stop smiling, or your heart beats faster when you’re going to see them. “You feel a genuine rush or high when you think of them,”^[9]and if you’re not sure if you’re falling in love, this is the tell-tale sign all our sources agree on: your body will tell you.

02. You start planning the future with them, whether in small steps, like future dates or vacations, or in leaps and bounds – think marriage, children, the works. “Whatever it might entail, it’s showing that you’re excited about this person…” David Khalili, MA, LMFT told Business Insider.^[2]

03. Life feels more exciting

…like you’re invincible, and you’re more optimistic than usual. Several articles mention a decreased sense of physical pain. According to Maci Daye, certified sex therapist and author, “Our rise to superhuman status is due to elevated levels of testosterone, dopamine, and epinephrine.”^[8] Sure, it’s hormones. But you probably feel like you can try anything – who cares why?

04. You think about them all the time, whether you like it or not. Daye says “We… fantasize about our lover morning, noon, and night,” and you can’t even help it… “The sudden drop in serotonin at this early stage matches the levels of those with obsessive-compulsive disorder.”^[8]

05. You feel safe with them.

Healthline says, “Feeling safe enough with someone to trust them with your personal weaknesses or vulnerabilities often suggests developing love.”^[1] And building trust is important to long-lasting relationship success.

06. You crave or prioritize time with them. Not only that, it won’t matter what you do together, and when you leave, it won’t feel like the time was enough.

07. You crave them physically, and not just because you are “in lust.” In fact, according to scientists, the “the “general arousal” component of romantic love… is distinct from the sex drive,”^[16] and the mystery of mating includes much more.

08. You feel empathy and compassion for them.

“This might mean going out of the way to give them love in the way that they want to receive it, even if it is not the way you would want to receive love,” Madeline Cooper, LCSW, told Glamour.^[8] This is a strong hallmark of love vs. infatuation, because over time, passionate love gives way to compassionate love.

09. You want to show affection, especially toward them. Here’s another one backed by science. “…physical closeness causes a burst of the bonding hormone oxytocin into our system,” Claire Burley, PsyD, told Glamour.^[8]

10. You want to learn about their interests

…even if they enjoy something you would never have tried. According to Brides.com, “people in relationships who try new hobbies together help keep the spark alive…”^[12]

11. You feel adventurous and experimental, and are willing to try new things, not just engage in your new love’s hobbies. Dr. Burley says “When we fall in love, we can expand our view of our self… It’s a great time to be creative.”^[8]

12. Your heart rates synchronize.

Really! “In a 2013 study, a UC Davis research team… found that the heart rates of couples in love often mimicked each other, even if the couple were just sitting quietly without speaking or touching.”^[9] But this didn’t happen with random pairings that were not romantically involved. Ready to compare smart watches?

13. You find their quirks endearing. Rachel DeAlto, chief dating expert for Match, told Oprah Daily, “You start to find everything about them irresistible… their odd sense of style, and their particular way of doing things…”^[10]

14. You want them to be happy, and you’ll go out of your way to help the cause. “You don’t only want happiness for yourself, but you want it in equal measure for the other person,” psychologist Marc Hekster told The Independent.^[11]

15. You’re thinking of introducing them to important people in your life

…and you care what people in their life think of you. Meeting each other’s “people” means letting one another into the private areas of your life, which requires a certain level of comfort.^[3]

16. You feel like you grow together. “Partners in a loving relationship motivate each other to become better individuals,” says BetterHelp.com.^[7]

17. You’re willing to put in the work.

There’s no auto-pilot for maintaining a strong relationship. Both partners need to be willing to put in effort over time to keep thriving together.

18. You’re not interested in other people, and you’re ready to delete your dating apps and abandon your DMs. “…you’ve made the decision to focus your time and energy.”^[3]

19. You prioritize their needs and act in their best interest.

Selflessness and caring for what’s best for your partner can be a signal that your feelings are deeper.

20. Your feelings get stronger and deeper. If your “like” for them is unwavering and it’s not showing any signs of weakening, it might be love.

21. You have fun no matter what you’re doing, because you enjoy their company. Sharing an activity with someone you have deep feelings for just makes the mundane more enjoyable.

22. You keep catching yourself staring at them.

Besides, “when you look at someone you love, you don’t just see what they look like. You might see your entire future together…”^[11]

23. You’re grateful for them. “You won’t take them for granted, and their small gestures will mean so much.”^[3]

24. You’re into more than just their looks.

(We think this should have made it up higher in the list.) According to Kathy McCoy, Ph.D., “After the fantasies and illusions begin to fall away, it’s possible that what comes into focus is something much better: a realistic, sustainable love.”^[6]

25. It feels easy. You can be yourself around them, and you don’t have to constantly overthink. Whether you’re talking about the details of your day, or your deeply-rooted beliefs, it will feel easy to share with them.

26. You’re proud of them and want to make them proud. You might even feel the need to brag about them.

27. Disagreements don’t impact your feelings.

If you’re not left questioning your feelings after getting into a disagreement, chances are high you’re feeling more committed.

28. You forget your other priorities or abandon your usual activities. Your brain’s reward system will cause you to seek out more time with them. As Glamour put it, “This doesn’t last forever. Attachment systems eventually settle, meaning you’ll feel ready to retrieve other parts of your life again.”^[8]

29. You’re worried, stressed, or anxious. The intensity of your feelings could trigger hesitation and the release of cortisol. Don’t freak out, it’s only love.^[13]

30. You’re glued to your phone

…waiting for the next message – or just re-reading all of the ones you’ve already shared. According to Dr. Burley, our brain scans for ” signs that our partner is available and responsive to our emotional needs.”^[8]

31. You show more love for others. Kelifern Pomeranz, PsyD, told Oprah Daily, “Falling in love can knock us out of autopilot and allow us to see everything and everyone in a new light.”^[10]

32. You daydream about them.

Psychotherapist Kat Kova says this is a function of the evolution of lust, love, and attachment “to help create lasting attachments and mutual feelings of caring, which… that increase sexual engagement and thus chances for reproduction.”^[8]

33. You want to say “I love you,” no matter how little time has passed. Besides, “there are no rules surrounding the “right” time to tell someone that.”^[10]

34. You feel infatuated.

We know – this can happen with or without a deeper feeling of love. But it can easily be part of the process. “Infatuation is part of falling in love, just like getting in my car is part of going to work,” Kim Garrett, LPC, told Glamour.^[8]

35. Love songs make sense… and you’re singing along. Because your body is releasing a bunch of happy-chemicals – dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine^[12] – those lyrics are suddenly relatable.

36. They’re the first person you share news with.

Through ups and downs, they become the person you turn to, and rely on for sympathy or celebrations.

37. You don’t mind when they do something “unattractive.” Falling in love “can be associated with the loss of all inhibition,” Marc Hekster told The Independent.^[11] And so, those icks of yours might be met with a blind eye.

38. You know them better than anyone else

…or you’re on your way, anyway. According to Teen Vogue, “You’re essentially on the way to getting to know someone almost as well as you know yourself.”^[4]

39. They can do no wrong. As Hekster put it, “Even if they are wearing sandals with socks. It’s what makes them so beautiful, right?!”^[11]

40. You feel jealous of other people in their life. Right or wrong, you may get worried if you suspect any threats to your love. As Healthline put it, “Talking about your feelings never hurts, but you might want to skip the digital snooping and social media stakeouts.”^[1]

41. You want to take care of them

…and be taken care of in return. Comforting and protecting the object of your affection can come naturally – and it only makes sense that you’ll want the same from your partner.

42. “They complement you rather than “complete” you.” Business Insider makes the point that love means more than “liking someone simply because they make you feel better about yourself.”^[2]

43. You can be yourself with them. Opening up and allowing someone else to see your flaws is a sign that you’re feelings are deeper than a fling.

44. You give them undivided attention.

Is it “hard for you to focus on anything else when they’re around”?^[3] If you’re staying attuned and ignoring distractions, it’s a sign you’re falling for them.

45. You approach disagreements differently. Because you have strong feelings, you don’t want to hurt the other person and will try to approach things more peacefully.^[5]

46. You’re full of date ideas, because “You just want to drink in all that they are about,” said Kat Kova. Shared experiences will help you learn more about each other and increase “the good feelings associated with novelty, challenge, and learning.”^[8]

47. You think they might be “The One.”

According to Elena Touroni, PsychD, feeling you have met the One “is connected to a feeling of being in love as well as a sense that you know that this is the person you want to spend your life with.”^[8]

48. You want to move faster or slower than usual. If you have a tendency in casual relationships to move at a certain speed, you might find yourself hitting the accelerator – or pumping the brakes – depending upon your usual attachment style.

49. You believe things will last forever.

The heady, chemical fog of new love can feel like a fairy tale – and that “enjoying an interlude of perfect harmony that leads us to assume that our partner is right for us,” says Maci Daye.^[8]

50. You enjoy sex more. A few reasons may be that the experience feels more fulfilling because of your attachment, you’re able to communicate your desires better, deeper trust, or feeling free of judgment. Whatever the reason, embrace it!

51. You make each other laugh.

Surprisingly missing from 14 of 15 lists, mutual laughter can be a sign of growing love. Considering that studies reported in Psychology Today concluded that “joking and laughing play vital but perhaps different functions in good and sustainable long-term relationships,”^[18] we think this is an important signal for lasting compatibility.

52. They make you feel treasured.^[9] How your new SO makes you feel is important – but be careful, because feeling loved does not mean you are in love. This is yet another sign to be taken along with the others in this list. And – if they make you feel treasured, make them feel it right back.

53. You’re dying to know how they feel about you.

If you’re looking for signs that they feel similarly, or that they miss you, too, it’s another signal you’re falling in love, according to Jacqueline Olds, MD.^[10]

54. Their traits become your traits. Did you know that as you get to know one another, your “perceptions of self begin to merge”? According to Theresa E. DiDonato, PhD, “Because of this self-other overlap, individuals… can mistake their partner’s characteristics for their own.”^[10] Don’t worry – you’re still you.

55. It just feels right. Do you still need to know the signs? Richard Schwartz, MD told Oprah Daily, “for a majority of people it’s not a hard question and the answer is perfectly obvious to them.”^[10] And we agree – if you’re in love, you probably know it already.

56. Your friends are noticing.

This probably has something to do with the fact that you can’t stop thinking about them, and might be constantly talking about them. And those brunch plans you cancelled? Yeah, your friends noticed.

57. Time flies when you’re together. You know the old adage. As put by psychologist Daria Kuss in The Independent, “You are in the flow when you are with them… So you won’t notice the ticking clock when you spend time together.”^[11]

58. Their scent is intoxicating. In fact, “Experts say that scent can be an important part of your attraction, and we may even have a perfect scent match,” according to Brides.com.^[12]

59. You can’t stop talking about them. To anyone. At all. And you’re not sorry.

Scientific Signs of Love

How do you know if you really love someone? Gauging whether you love someone is not always easy and often requires an individual to not only assess their partner in relation to their own preferences and expectations but also when considering the actions of the other person. If you’re not careful, love can reveal itself to be one-sided if the other half of the relationship is not on the same page or willing to comply with the goals and intentions of the other. Here are some examples of both emotional and behavioral signals that demonstrate if love is or isn’t mutual.

Emotional Signs of Deep Love

Levels of empathy achieved and reciprocated
Encouragement and affection are on display regularly
Consideration and respect for concerns and desires
Commitment to preserving overall health and safety

Behavioral Hallmarks of True Love

Detailed and honest communication throughout prosperity or hardships
Dedicated and purposeful quality time spent together
Willingness to support and uplift each other in times of need
Ability to compromise or make important decisions as a team
Developing an intimate aspect of your relationship that builds over time

Physical Signs of Falling in Love

Loss of appetite
Sleeplessness
“Butterflies” or knots in your stomach
Feelings of stress or anxiety
Feelings of being “high”
Synchronized heart rates
Increased heart rate
Decreased perception of pain
Increased perspiration

How to Know You’re Truly in Love vs. Infatuation

It can be easy to misinterpret devotion for infatuation, so it’s important to identify the differences between the two and decide whether the potential of the other person choosing love over lust is possible. Affection is often quantified by the physical experience of two lovers, but it’s often more complex in the universal optics of a promising relationship.

Infatuation is usually clouded in selfish obsession, and only displaying loving qualities at conveniently selected times may indicate that the other person is only acting in their own self-interest. Infatuation can dwindle over time, but true love grows stronger with each passing challenge and obstacle. If you find that someone is flaky or unreliable in earnest times of need, it would be best to search for another companion who’s willing to put your interests on an equal plane with their own.

Characteristics of Infatuation

Strong cravings or obsession with the person that come on quickly after meeting
Frequent overthinking or anxiety when apart from them
Fantasizing about them
An idealized perception of the person and inability to see their flaws
A superficial relationship
Feelings of insecurity
Lack of imagining a realistic future together

Signs of True Love

You characterize your feelings for them as being serious
Your feelings develop slowly
You are happy to see them without feeling nervous
You’re able to see their imperfections, and love them anyway
Shared intimacy, vulnerability, and trust
Feelings of safety and security
Long-term commitment

The Power of Love in Relationships

Whether or not you’ve realized you’re falling in love, there can be some indicators you can identify as it’s happening. If you’re wondering how to know if you’re in love, the biggest sign is that your newfound relationship begins to consume you. Even if you came in with no expectations, once this person earns your attention while you’re at work, in your free time, or whenever you’re not together, you’ll eventually have to ask yourself, “Am I in love?” If you’re finding yourself always wishing you could talk to that person, here are some ways love can impact and lead your relationship.

Support and Vulnerability

Even when you operate as a couple, we all go through challenges in our personal daily lives. The benefits of having someone by your side who genuinely cares about you are countless, but one of the most special ways they can love you is by providing emotional support. Having a partner to rely on in times of need is extremely helpful during moments of heightened anxiety, discomfort, or stress, and knowing you can work through these experiences together can create a significant bond through trust that will manifest naturally, thereby strengthening feelings of affection.

When your companion opens up and offers their honesty and vulnerability to you, it’s a sign of mutual respect, which means that not only do they confide in you, but your reciprocation is both expected and valued. One of the simplest ways of seeing how to know if you love someone is by considering how much trust you’ve developed because, as they say, iron sharpens iron. If you notice yourself becoming upfront for the betterment of your interests as a pairing, you’ll assume your significant other will be willing to do the same for you. This willingness to communicate, expose flaws or improvements you’d like to address, or just the eagerness to give compliments can aid in forming a lasting connection that showcases a level of care easier classified as love.

Commitment and Understanding

Much like support, a serious and meaningful relationship cannot be achieved without the promise of commitment and understanding the importance of hearing each other out. Every individual has their own respective boundaries and values that are substantial to them, and showing your respect for their standards of a loving marriage proves you are acknowledging their expectations in a respectful way. If you’re taking the time to really invest in the person you’re dating naturally, learning about what matters most to them, and then mirroring those desires in a loving manner, it will show how much you truly love them without having to use words.

However, relationships are not like a nine-to-five job, and there are no days off. When you commit yourself to a personal and long-term relationship, you’re expected to be available and on-call 24/7. Sure, there will still be split lives whilst dating, but sharing your daily successes or struggles, asking for advice on prevalent issues, or just looking forward to being in each other’s company are asks that will feel more like desires once you’ve truly fallen for someone. Wanting to be there through every twist and turn of your partner’s life is a telltale answer to the question, “How do I know if I’m in love?” Your actions will often profess your love before your actual mouth.

Empathy and Trust

While we touched on emotional support earlier, authenticity and empathy are crucial factors in building the day-to-day developments that construct relationships with sturdy foundations. Being able to provide clarity, compassion, insight, and introspection can be an invaluable resource for your partner, and the more listening you’re able to do, the more you’ll genuinely understand them. Over time, you will establish trust beyond whether or not they’ll remember to put the dishes in the dishwasher while you’re away. You’ll be able to have confidence that they’re acting in the best interest of both you and your family and that their motivations are heartfelt and not selfish.

This sort of trust transcends the physical space and is even more important from an emotional and intimacy perspective. Seeing eye-to-eye on public issues is one thing, but having a clear and planned vision for your future or a mutual understanding of the expectations and lifestyle you wish to achieve is paramount. Entrusting another with your life decisions can seem scary at first, but once you’ve realized that fear is erased due to the comfortability your significant other provides, it begins to feel less like dating and more like a legitimate love interest.

Growth and Well-Being

We all understand how a loving partner provides both affection and support in a relationship, but how they aid in the growth and well-being of their significant other is highly underrated. If anything, a loving partner is expected to lift you up in times of need, and if you find this person to be not only compassionate but encouraging throughout your time dating them, the question of how to know if you’re in love could be scrapped. Assuming that person is trying to be proactive and improve themselves alongside you, there will be increased confidence in the stability of your accord.

This also applies to your overall well-being, whether it be emotional, physical, financial, or otherwise. Being there to ensure things are going smoothly for your significant other is not as much of a demand as it is a prerequisite to determine how much potential the relationship ultimately has. You want to make sure your partner is maintaining a healthy lifestyle as much as you want to ensure their new career opportunity is going smoothly. A balanced schedule, ample time spent together, and the formation of positive routines can all create healthy habits for both parties in the couple, and a healthy heart and mind will prove steadfast in a relationship built around true love.

How to Deepen Your Connection

Slowly working your way to building a deeper connection with your significant other is something that’s guaranteed to take time, but the effort to determine whether or not the respective relationship is worth your time is worth it. Nothing is more demoralizing than putting your time and effort into a serious relationship only to question, “Am I in love?” You should feel the passion and yearning for your partner naturally growing, identifying the authentic love and importance you feel for that person’s existence each and every day.

These signs of love may or may not seem apparent at first, but only time and continued efforts to better each other will dictate if you both are really cut out to be together or not. The innate instinct to capture a prospective opportunity with a love interest and then make the most of it is something we all strive for. The honest approach of bringing your authentic self and 100% effort to each progression in the relationship is the key to ensuring you’re both committed. When you’re both willing to put your individual priorities aside, you’ll begin to include your partner in every decision made along the way.

Love is special and rare. If it were so easy to find, it wouldn’t be so amazing, and you’d probably have an easy time walking away. When it does truly happen, appreciate it… because if you don’t, you’ll lose the greatest gift life has to offer: another person’s love and care.