If you’re in a relationship with someone and you suspect they may be seeing someone else on the side, it can be tough to figure out what to do.

After all, you don’t want to confront your partner if you’re not sure whether they’re actually doing anything wrong. In that case, don’t worry you have come to the right place.

Luckily, there are some signs you can look for that may indicate whether or not your suspicions are true. Here we will explain what is “the other woman” and 7 signs that you may be the other woman in your partner’s life.

What is the “other woman?”

The term “the other woman” is typically used to describe a woman who is involved with a man who is already in a relationship. In most cases, the other woman is aware of the man’s relationship status and chooses to enter into a romantic or physical relationship with him anyway.

While the motivations of the other woman can vary, she typically forms a connection with the man that is based on mutual attraction and shared interests. In some cases, the other woman may even become emotionally attached to the man, despite knowing that he is unavailable.

On the other hand, while it might seem like common sense to avoid getting involved with someone who’s taken, it’s not always that simple. People can be very good at hiding their infidelity, and sometimes the other woman may not find out that she plays that role in his life, until it’s too late. It’s key to notice these signs early on to identify whether you are the other woman in your relationship.

Signs to look out for if you think you’re the other woman:

1st Sign: He’s always busy.

If you’re the other woman in a relationship, chances are he’s always busy. He’s always got somewhere to be, someone to see, or something to do. And when he’s with you, he’s always on his phone or checking his emails.

You’re never his priority. And, he’s never there for you when you need him. He’s always too busy for you. After all, he’s got to maintain his main relationship too, and that means making time for you is often last on his list of priorities.

If your man is constantly canceling plans or seems unable to make time for you, it’s a sign that you’re not his top priority. If this sounds familiar, then you’re probably the other woman

2nd Sign: He’s secretive about his phone.

If you’re dating a guy who’s secretive about his phone, it’s a pretty good sign that you may be the other woman. If he always has to step away to take a call or won’t let you see who he’s texting, it’s likely because he’s hiding something.

And if he’s constantly checking his phone when you’re together, it could be because he’s waiting for a message from the person he’s actually serious about. Of course, there could be other explanations for why he’s being secretive about his phone, but if you’re already suspicious, this is definitely a red flag.

3rd Sign: He never introduces you to his friends or family.

Thirdly, another common sign is that he never introduces you to his friends or family even after months of dating. This is a clear sign that he’s not ready to introduce you to the important people in his life, which means that you’re not as important to him as you might think.

Furthermore, it shows he doesn’t want them to know about you or to get too attached to you. Additionally, he might never talk about you when he’s around his friends or family, in the first place. If they catch you out together and do ask about you, he’s likely to be evasive or even outright lies about who you are and what your relationship is like.

He also probably won’t want to spend much time with you when he’s busy with family and friends. So, if you notice that he’s always making excuses not to spend time with you when they’re around him, it’s a sign that you’re the other woman in the relationship.

4th Sign: He’s only available at night.

If you’re seeing a guy and he’s only available to see you on his own terms then it’s a bad sign. If he’s only available for late-night hook-ups or to see you at night, for example, then chances are he’s got a daytime partner too.

He’s not interested in seeing you during the day because that would mean he’d have to introduce you to his friends, embedding you further into his life.

But, he wants to keep you as the other woman, someone who he can see on his terms and who isn’t truly a part of his life. So if your guy is only available at night, it’s time to move on and find someone who will give you the attention and time that you deserve.

5th Sign: He never talks about the future.

Fifthly, if you’re dating a man and he never talks about the future, it’s a pretty clear sign that you’re not his only partner. Maybe, he changes the topic whenever you bring up anything long-term. Or, he’s always vague about his plans, and he doesn’t include you in any of his future goals.

In short, he’s not looking to make a long-term commitment to you. And if he’s not willing to commit to you and doesn’t see you in his future plans, then you’re probably not the only woman in his life. This can be a difficult thing to come to terms with, but it’s important, to be honest with yourself about where you stand in his life.

If you’re not the only woman, then you need to accept that and move on. There is plenty of other fish in the sea, and you deserve someone who will include you in their plans for the future.

6th Sign: Your relationship is based on physical intimacy.

One of the tell-tale signs that you’re the other woman is that physical intimacy is often the only thing your man is interested in. If your “relationship” consists mostly of hooking up and doesn’t involve any real emotional connection, then it’s likely that he’s using you as a way to fulfill his physical needs without having to deal with the messy reality of a committed relationship.

Additionally, if your partner isn’t interested in getting to know you on a deeper level, and they don’t have anyone else then it’s likely that you’re just a placeholder until they find someone they can see themselves with long-term.

If you’re okay with being nothing more than a physical distraction for him, then that’s fine. But if you’re looking for something more meaningful, then you might want to move on.

7th Sign: You have a gut feeling that something isn’t right.

The final, yet probably the most telling sign. From the very beginning, you may have felt uneasy about your relationship with this man. Maybe your friends and family voiced their concerns, but you brushed them off because you were head-over-heels in love.

Now, looking back, you realize that they were right all along. If you feel like something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. Trust your gut instinct and listen to what your intuition is telling you. Chances are if you feel like you’re the other woman, you probably are.

Also, don’t forget to check this article out too for signs that a married man is using you.