Exclusive Relationship: Meaning And Signs You’re in One

Eliminate the relationship ambiguity with our complete guide on exclusive relationships. Learn all about the relationship dynamics and find clarity now.

Aastha Pahadia
Written by Aastha Pahadia , Certified Relationship Coach
Updated on Apr 19, 2024 | 01:15 PM IST | 247.2K
All About Exclusive Relationships to Help You Discover Your Relationship Status
All About Exclusive Relationships to Help You Discover Your Relationship Status

Dating can be an exciting adventure with romantic dinners, movie nights, surprises, and occasional fights. However, during the dating phase of the relationship, things could trouble you a bit if you don’t know where the relationship is headed — the relationship could feel even more challenging if you want to be in an exclusive relationship but are unsure. After all, the beginning phase of dating is a nonconformity phase wherein you are not sure about the exclusivity of your relationship. But don’t fret as our guide will help you learn the A-Z of relationships that are exclusive. 

For the unversed, an exclusive relationship is a relationship where both partners focus on each other and refrain from dating or pursuing romantic relationships with others. If you find yourself in this situation, it's essential to know the signs that will help you determine whether you're really in it or not. 

In this article, we'll learn how to look for signs to know if you're in an exclusive relationship or not. It doesn’t matter whether you have started dating someone recently or have been in a relationship for months or years — our article has got it all covered for you! Let's get started!

Exclusive Relationship: What Is It?

Are We Dating Or In A Relationship: Where Do We Stand?

First things first — before determining the status of your current relationship, it is very important to understand properly the meaning of exclusive relationships and how they differ from casual dating. When you understand the basics of it, you’ll be able to categorize your relationship accordingly. 

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There are many types of relationships in the world — talking about exclusive ones, means that the partners will be monogamous and not give their hearts, souls, and body to anyone else. Be it physically or mentally, they’ll be each other’s and no third party will ever come their way. 

Casual dating, on the other hand, simply put is a type of relationship wherein a couple is seeing each other with no strings attached. They may be open to seeing other people while being in the current relationship as well and there is no focus on commitment. 

Of course, the difference between dating and an exclusive relationship lies in the level of commitment. Casual dating doesn’t include any serious commitment, while an exclusive one requires commitment, loyalty, trust, and monogamy.

It is of vital importance that you have clear-cut communication with your partner about where you stand in the relationship. If you are not sure whether you are in the casual dating phase or heading toward something more serious, it’s best to have a heart-to-heart talk with your partner and get a clear picture.

How Does Exclusivity Change Your Relationship?

How does exclusivity change your relationship?

For many people, exclusivity is synonymous with a healthy relationship. If you are someone who wishes to be in an exclusive relationship, it is important to understand how it can affect your relationship. Let's take a closer look at some ways that exclusivity can bring about a shift in dynamics. 

1. When two people commit fully to each other, they establish a high level of trust and commitment, which in turn, fosters a deep understanding between the two. This means they put their partner’s needs first and choose to be with them whenever required. 

2. Exclusivity can help you create deep emotional intimacy, leading to a healthy long-term relationship. When you love someone enough to want to be with only them, it makes you have honest communication with them, opening your heart out and being vulnerable. This creates a wonderful level of trust, paving the way for a fulfilling relationship. 

3. When a couple has decided to be exclusive, it means they know it’s an official relationship and that helps them prevent misunderstanding. 

4. Plus, being with a partner who loves you and wants to commit to you fully and deeply provides a sense of security, helping one stay calm and at ease. This can also boost a couple’s confidence levels and help them grow in life, both personally and professionally.  

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5. Love has the ability to move mountains — when you have someone by your side who has promised to be with you forever, it helps you stay calm and composed. Being with someone who is there with you through thick and thin helps people stay happy and stress-free.

ALSO READ: 22 Most Obvious Signs Your Relationship Will Last Forever

Top Signs You Are Ready for an Exclusive Relationship

5 Signs You and Your Partner are Ready for Exclusivity

When it comes to exclusive relationships, it is important that both partners are on the same page — if either doesn’t want to be in one, later it could sabotage the relationship. Here are some signs that you and your partner are ready to be exclusive: 

1. You Know Each Other Very Well: Before you commit to exclusivity, it is important that couples date each other for a while and get to know each other. If you both are aware of each other’s pet peeves, strengths, weaknesses, schedules, and every other little detail that a couple ought to know — it could be a sign you are ready to take your relationship to the next level.  

2. You Have Talked Clearly About Your Expectations: It's important to communicate openly and honestly about what you are both looking for in a relationship. If you have talked about your expectations with your partner and both of you agree to be in a serious relationship wherein you don’t see other people, it's a sure-shot sign that you are both ready for it.

3. You Share Common Values: Values and ethics define our personality — when it comes to sustaining a relationship, an important aspect that couples look for is having common values. If you two feel the same about relationship dynamics and being monogamous, it could be a sign that you are ready for exclusivity. 

4. You Are There with Each Other Through Thick And Thin: Life is a roller-coaster ride, full of ups and downs. Beautiful couples share challenges together and never leave each other’s side — be it good days or bad days, they navigate through all of it together and that helps them strengthen their bond. If you two share a bond where you can count on each other any day, it is a sign you are in for a long haul. 

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5. You Trust Each Other: Without trust, no serious relationship can survive, not even a day.  If you both have established deep trust and understanding between the two of you, it is a sign you are ready for exclusivity. 

Being in an exclusive relationship can be a beautiful experience, but only when both partners are ready for it. By looking out for these signs, you can feel confident in taking the next step in your relationship.

7 Signs You Are Already In an Exclusive Relationship

7 Signs Your Relationship is Already Exclusive

Sometimes, love blossoms quickly and you might already be in an exclusive dating stage without even knowing it. However, being mindful of your relationship stage is important to prevent misunderstandings. Here are some positive signs that could help you recognize whether your relationship has become exclusive:

1. You Spend Most of Your Time Together: When you're in an exclusive relationship, you want to spend quality time with your partner. If you both take time off your busy schedules for each other, cancel plans with others to meet, and are excited to see each other — it could mean you are already in an exclusive relationship.  

2. Trusting Your Partner Comes Naturally to You: In matters of hearts, there is no place for lies, and one can’t obviously deceive the one they love. If you both trust each other to the extent that you can share your thoughts, feelings, and even your darkest secrets with the other one — it means your partner means a lot to you and you are quite serious about them. 

3You Know Their Social Circle: One of the common signs that the relationship is pretty serious is when your partner introduces you to their family and friends. If you both know each other’s social circle and are a part of it — it clearly indicates that your partner sees a beautiful, long-term relationship with you. 

4. You Envision a Future Together: It’s kind of obvious that a couple who is casually dating won’t make any future plans together but couples who are serious about each other often ask each other about finances, work commitments, families, kids, parenting style, savings, etc. This is because they want to know each other’s long-term goals and make decisions as a couple.  You're committed to each other and are excited about the future's possibilities.

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5. You Work as a Team: If you prioritize each other, and take each other’s opinions into account when arriving at a decision — it means you are committed to each other deeply. 

6. You're Physically Exclusive: Being physically exclusive is essential to an exclusive relationship. You're both committed to being intimate only with each other and agreeing to be monogamous. 

7. Your Instincts Tell You: Sometimes, you don't need any external signs to know you're in an exclusive relationship. You feel it in your gut and know you're committed to each other. You don't question the relationship or feel the need to seek out other potential partners. You both have an unspoken understanding that you're exclusive and content with how things are.

Conclusion:

Exclusive relationships are fulfilling and can help a couple stay calm and happy. If you prioritize each other, work as a team, and have an ultimate level of trust in each other — know things are getting serious. However, don’t jump into exclusivity all of a sudden — when dating someone, take all the time you need to know each other so that you can be sure about the person. Remember that be it any kind of relationship — if there is communication, trust, and mutual respect, you will be happy. But if you want to be an exclusive one, make it clear to your partner and set the expectations straight to stay happy with your loved one. 

FAQs related to Exclusive Relationships

Does exclusive mean boyfriend?
The term exclusive in a relationship context usually means that both partners have agreed to only date each other and are not seeing other people. However, this does not necessarily mean the couple is boyfriend and girlfriend. The terms exclusive and boyfriend/girlfriend can have different meanings for different people, so both partners must clearly understand what their relationship entails. Some people may use the term exclusive as a step towards becoming official. In contrast, others may view it as a way to test the waters before committing to a more serious relationship. So, what does an exclusive relationship mean can vary based on the understanding and agreement between the partners.

How long do exclusive relationships last?
The duration of an exclusive relationship can vary widely depending on the individuals involved and their circumstances. Some couples may become exclusive after just a few dates, while others may take several months to reach that point. Once a couple is exclusive, the length of their relationship can also vary. Some may only last a few months, while others may continue for several years. Ultimately, the length of a relationship depends on the individuals involved and their commitment to each other. Some couples may take their relationship to the next level and become engaged or get married, while others may choose to end their relationship and move on.

Is an exclusive relationship serious?
It can be serious but ultimately depends on the individuals involved and their intentions. For some people, being exclusive is a step towards a more serious commitment, such as engagement or marriage. For others, being exclusive is a way to test the waters and see if the relationship has the potential to become more serious. Regardless of the reason for being exclusive, it typically indicates that both partners are committed to each other and are not seeing other people.

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About The Author
Aastha Pahadia
Aastha Pahadia
Certified Relationship Coach

Aastha is a certified Relationship coach and she strives to help those who seek expert advice on relationships.

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