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Prepositions after adjectives

Infatuated with, by or in?

Infatuated is normally followed by with when describing strong attraction or admiration.

Quick answer

Which preposition is correct with infatuated?

Use infatuated with for strong romantic or emotional attraction. Infatuated by and infatuated in are generally nonstandard after the adjective.

She is infatuated with her new colleague.
He became infatuated with Italian cinema.
They were infatuated with each other.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
infatuated with + person

Talking about romantic attraction

Use with for strong feelings toward a person.

He was infatuated with his classmate.
She became infatuated with a musician.
2
infatuated with + thing/idea

Talking about intense admiration

With can also describe fascination with hobbies, styles, or ideas.

They are infatuated with luxury brands.
She seems infatuated with social media.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
infatuated with
He is infatuated with his neighbour.
Standard and natural pattern.
infatuated by
He is infatuated by his neighbour.
Generally nonstandard after infatuated. Use with instead.
infatuated in
He is infatuated in his neighbour.
Nonstandard after infatuated.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using by after infatuated

By is not the usual preposition after infatuated.

✕ She is infatuated by him. ✓ She is infatuated with him.

Using in after infatuated

In does not normally follow infatuated.

✕ He became infatuated in her. ✓ He became infatuated with her.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is infatuated ___ a famous actor.
2. They became infatuated ___ vintage fashion.
3. Which sentence is standard English?

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Frequently asked questions

Is infatuated always romantic?

No. It can also describe strong admiration for things, ideas, or activities.

Can I use infatuated by?

It is generally considered nonstandard after the adjective infatuated.

What is the difference between infatuated and in love?

Infatuated often suggests intense but possibly temporary attraction.

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