Subtle Hints That He’s Starting to Fall Head Over Heels in Love with You

Look for these signals that he’s catching serious feelings

Written by Candice Mostisser | Edited by Devin McSween

Last Updated: February 28, 2023 References

You and your crush might have known each other for a while, but lately you’ve been wondering how he truly feels about you. His behavior sometimes hints that he’s falling for you, so how can you really tell? Luckily, even the most mysterious guy gives off unmistakable signals that he’s head over heels. Whether he’s a new boyfriend, a crush, or just a friend, we’ll go over the most common signs that love is on his brain. Read on to know what to look for!

This article is based on an interview with our dating coach, Candice Mostisser. Check out the full interview here.

Things You Should Know

Notice how often he talks to you. If he’s the one initiating your convos and clears his schedule to hang out with you, he’s likely falling for you.
Watch how he behaves when you enter the room. A guy falling for you will often light up when he sees you and bee-line right to your side.
See if he’s more protective over you. If your crush is falling in love, he’ll often drop everything to be with you when you need him.

1

He initiates contact.

A guy in love can’t wait to talk to you, so he’ll often text or call you first. When you were getting to know each other, you might have been the one messaging your crush to get the conversation rolling. But these days, he’s reaching out to you first. Now he’s up at the crack of dawn sending you sweet, “Good morning!” texts and initiating all your deep convos.^{[1]
X
Research source}

2

He’s being more affectionate.

Sweet gestures and flirty touches can be a sign he’s falling for you. If your crush goes out of his way to open a door for you or brush his hand across your arm, there’s a good chance he’s smitten with you. He can’t keep his strong feelings inside, so he’s choosing to show you how he feels instead of saying it directly.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- A friend who’s falling for you might run hot and cold, being super affectionate one day and growing distant the other. He might be coming to terms with his feelings and trying to figure out what to do about them.

3

He gives you lots of compliments.

When a guy is falling, he’ll tell you how much he appreciates you. In the beginning, your crush might have told you here and there that he thinks you look cute or finds you funny. Now, his compliments are more sincere and constant. He’ll tell you that he appreciates your thoughtfulness and finds you beyond beautiful. He’s in awe of you and wants you to see yourself how he does, too.^{[3]
X
Research source}

4

He worries about you.

If he acts concerned about you, he’s likely head over heels in love. When your crush starts caring for you deeply, even the littlest things might make him worried. If you’re driving across town to visit a friend, he might tell you to be careful and drive safe. Or, he might ask you to text him when you get home after grabbing dinner with your coworkers.^{[4]
X
Research source}

5

He talks about you.

If his loved ones know how great you are, he can’t get you off his mind. It’s hard for a guy to keep you to himself when his feelings grow strong. He needs the people important to him to know that he’s met someone amazing and wants to make you his. When you talk to his friends, they’ll probably tell you that they’ve heard a lot about you!^{[5]
X
Research source}

6

He asks you about yourself.

A genuine, deep interest in you hints that he really likes you. When a guy starts to fall in love, anything and everything about you is fascinating. He wants to understand you on a deeper level, so he’ll often ask you about your childhood, your inspirations, and your goals. Your crush is showing that he cares because he’s interested in what makes you tick.

7

He wants to know about your love life.

Diving into your dating history can be a sign he’s caught real feelings. Your crush isn’t being as sly as he thinks when he asks about the kinds of guys you’re into. He’s really testing the waters to see if you’re available and interested in dating him.^{[6]
X
Research source}

8

He listens when you talk.

You know you're important if he’s hanging onto your every word. If you’re talking, your crush’s attention is only on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re sharing your grocery haul or going over your exhausting day at work—your crush hangs onto every word. Because he cares, he’ll remember to follow up, too. Don’t be surprised if in a few days he asks how that new brand of yogurt was or whether you met your work deadline.^{[7]
X
Research source}

9

He wants to impress you.

A little peacocking is a sign that he’s trying to catch your eye. Does your crush puff out his chest and stand up straighter when you’re around? Or maybe he’s always wearing that shade of blue you said makes his eyes pop? Your crush is already in love with everything about you, so he’s trying to show you that he’s pretty great, too.^{[8]
X
Research source}

10

He’s nervous around you.

If he was acting cool but now he’s flustered, he’s really into you. You and your crush might have had no problems chatting and laughing the day away before. When you hang out now, he can’t help but blush everytime he sees you. He just wants to say the right thing and impress you, but he might trip over his words even when he’s just saying “Hi.”^{[9]
X
Research source}

11

He matches your interests.

Picking up your hobbies is a clear hint that he finds you fascinating. You might have mentioned to your crush that you love to play frisbee. Suddenly, he knows frisbee’s entire history and wants to play with you next Saturday. If your crush is geeking out over your interests and taking the time to do them with you, he’s not so subtly telling you that he’s seriously interested.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- When you and your crush discover that you have interests and hobbies in common, he’ll likely be super excited. This is also a sign that he’s falling even more deeply in love.

12

He finds your worst jokes super funny.

If he laughs at even your lamest puns, he’s clearly infatuated with you. You might be a true stand-up comedian but unfortunately, not every joke you tell lands. If you ask your crush though, they always do. Everything you say and do is charming and endearing when he’s starting to fall in love with you.

13

He wants to hang out all the time.

When he can’t keep himself away from you, you’ll know he’s in deep. He might text you every morning to ask if you’re free, or just show up at your door with a whole day planned with you. If you have plans to study at a coffee shop, he might just show up too. When he’s falling in love, he just wants to be around you—no amount of time is enough.

14

He gets jealous.

A little jealousy is healthy and often a sign that he cares for you deeply. Look for signs that your crush wants you all to himself. You might notice that he gets a little tense or stands up straighter when you say hi to another guy. He’s not acting possessive of you, but he doesn’t love seeing other guys flirt with you. Selfishly, he doesn’t want anyone else to have you.^{[11]
X
Research source}

15

He likes to give you gifts.

Sweet surprises can signal that he’s growing more attached. A man slowly falling in love wants to make you feel special and loved. He might spoil you with roses and a box of chocolates, or surprise you with that teeny trinket you mentioned a couple weeks ago. His goal is just to put a smile on your face.

16

He’s there when you need him.

Going out of his way to help you means his feelings are strong. Whether it’s a big problem or a minor inconvenience, your crush is there to support and help you every step of the way. All he cares about is your wellbeing, so it’s no question for him to stop what he’s doing and rush to your side.^{[12]
X
Research source}

17

He supports your goals.

He’s likely falling if he builds you up and celebrates your achievements. For a guy in love, your accomplishments are just as important to you as they are to him. He wants to see your dreams come true and will motivate you to reach them. Your crush has a genuine interest in helping you become the best version of yourself.^{[13]
X
Research source}

18

He lights up when he sees you.

If he looks at you like you're his whole world, he’s in love. Watch your crush’s body language the next time you see each other. When he’s starting to fall, his eyes will likely light up and the widest grin will spread across his face. If you're talking to someone else, he might gaze at you across the room because he’s so excited to be around you.

19

He’s opening up to you more.

Being vulnerable is a sign that he trusts you and wants to get closer. When you and your crush got to know each other, you probably just talked about your hobbies and interests. These days, he wants you to see his deeper side. He’ll likely share the good and bad parts of his past so you can both grow closer and build trust.^{[14]
X
Research source}

20

He gave you a pet name.

He’s beyond smitten if he’s calling you “Sweetie” or “Honey.” Every time you and your crush talk, he grows more and more attached to you. You can tell his affection runs deep when he starts calling you a sweet or silly nickname. He might bestow you with a classic pet name like “Babe,” or call you something only you 2 would understand.^{[15]
X
Research source}

21

He makes room for you in his life.

Making you a priority is a huge sign that he thinks you’re the one. If your crush has any time to spare, and he chooses to spend it with you, he doesn’t need to say “I love you” out loud. It’s clear that he values you and wants you to feel like you’re a part of his life. If you’re dating, he might give you a coveted drawer in his dresser and let you spruce up his place with some plants.

22

He talks about the future.

Love is on his brain if he’s planning dates and vacations with you. Nothing screams commitment like making plans with your crush weeks or months down the line. This often means that he sees a future with you and wants to keep you in his life. When he’s really serious about you, he might start to joke about your future kids!^{[16]
X
Research source}

23

He’s protective and caring.

If he’s falling in love, he just wants to make sure you’re safe and secure. Whether you’re sick on the couch or walking home late at night, a guy in love needs to make sure you're safe and cared for. He might show up at your door with a big bowl of soup, or swoop in to drive you home when you’re feeling scared.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- He might even sense what you need before you do, reaching for an ingredient in the pantry before you can drag up a stool and get it yourself.

24

He’s always touching you.

Constant contact is a sign that he can’t get enough of you. If you and your crush’s emotional connection is growing, your physical one probably is too. He’s never missing his chance to touch your waist, brush your hand, or hold your hug for longer. You might even feel a jolt of electricity from his touches, confirming that his affection is strong.^{[18]
X
Research source}

25

He finds your quirks endearing.

If he’s really into you, even your flaws will put a smile on his face. Maybe you start talking loudly when you’re excited or always seem to be cold, no matter how many layers you wear. These aren’t flaws to your crush: these are qualities that make you you. He embraces everything about you, even the traits that should annoy him just a little.^{[19]
X
Research source}

26

He sees you like no one else can.

A guy falling in love often notices every change about you. He’ll probably compliment you on your subtle hair trim or see that you’re rocking a new shirt. Your crush might be able to tell when you’re hiding that you're down, and make an effort to cheer you up.^{[20]
X
Research source}

27

He sends you sweet messages.

If he’s really feeling you, he’ll send lots of romantic, thoughtful texts. You and your crush might text about how your days are going and send silly memes. If he’s now randomly texting you about how much he likes and appreciates you, he’s probably falling for you. With a little more time, he might just come right out and say how he feels!^{[21]
X
Research source}

28

He isn’t interested in other people.

When he’s only got eyes for you, you’ll know he’s falling deeper in love. When you’re out with your crush, see how he reacts to other people. If he shuts down other’s advances or seeks you out in a crowded room, he’s likely committed to just you. You’re the one for him, and he won’t be able to hide it for much longer.

29

He wants to get to know your friends and family.

Meeting the important people in your life means he wants to get serious. All your crush wants to do is get closer to you. He’s curious about the people who’ve influenced your life and mean the world to you. He knows your friends and family are important to you, and wants to deepen your bond by becoming close to them, too.^{[22]
X
Research source}

30

He’s patient with you.

Understanding your feelings is a sign he truly respects you. Valuing your thoughts and opinions means that your crush deeply cares for you. You might not always agree when you argue, but he’ll listen to your side with an open mind. He won’t push you to switch your stance or feel a certain way. He respects how you feel and wouldn’t change you for the world.^{[23]
X
Research source}