dear

1 of 5

adjective (1)

ˈdir

: highly valued : precious

a dear friend

Our friendship is very dear to me.

ran for dear life

—often used in a salutation

dear Sir

: affectionate, fond

: high or exorbitant in price : expensive

eggs are very dear just now

: heartfelt

our dearest prayers

obsolete : noble

dearness noun

dear

2 of 5

adverb

: dearly sense 3

the effort cost them dear

: dearly sense 1

so dear I loved the man—

William Shakespeare

dear

3 of 5

noun

: a loved one : sweetheart

How was your day, dear?

: a lovable person

Be a dear and get me a drink.

dear

4 of 5

interjection

—used especially to express annoyance or dismay

Oh dear!

dear

5 of 5

adjective (2)

: severe, sore

in our dear peril—

William Shakespeare

Example Sentences

Noun Be a dear and take this for me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The little dear has always been a particular favorite of mine. —

Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023 On Tuesday, in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday, Marian and Valerie will speak to a Zoom audience about a subject dear to their hearts. —

Bo Emerson, ajc, 13 Jan. 2023 El Malei Rachamim or God of Compassion is a plea to God to please allow the dear departed to rest peacefully throughout eternity. —

Ellyn Laub, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2022 As Russia’s war against Ukraine stretches into another month, Ukrainians and Western nations are in suspense for how the Kremlin will celebrate a day dear to Russian history. —

Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2022 Male deer account for nearly twice as many deer harvested by shotgun or rifle and by landowners, according to state data, but female dear are more susceptible to death due to crop damage. —

Seamus Mcavoy, courant.com, 15 Nov. 2021 But are its patches of grass and sand dear to locals? —

Caroline Spivack, Curbed, 1 Mar. 2021

Adjective

The important tasks are those that need our attention to reach our goals and accomplish the projects that are very dear to us. —

Lidija Globokar, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023 This particular aesthetic theme is something Hearst holds dear, looking towards the future, not with a solid, determined plan, but with the hope that innovation and passion for design will pave the way forward. —

Kevin Leblanc, ELLE, 15 Feb. 2023 Talk to him, dear letter writer, and prepare to move on. —

Meredith Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2023 His romantic view of the conflict is shattered on his first night in the cold trenches, surrounded by death and disaster, and dealt a tragic blow with the easy, meaningless loss of a dear friend. —

WIRED, 10 Feb. 2023 This troubling cultural current has now made it to our dear cut-paper Coloradan suburb, reiterated as a rumor going around school that Kyle Broflovski controls Hollywood. —

Charles Bramesco, Chron, 9 Feb. 2023 Thank you, dear @SecBlinken for the warm welcome in Washington, DC. —

Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2023 The late Bill Wittliff, who was a dear friend, used to have an office in an old house on Baylor Street. —

Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023 In researching the story of his disappearance, Jason Nark attempts to come to terms with his own grief over a dear friend’s suicide. —

Krista Stevens, Longreads, 1 Feb. 2023 See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1), Adverb, Noun, and Interjection

Middle English dere, from Old English dēore; akin to Old High German tiuri distinguished, costly

Adjective (2)

Middle English dere, from Old English dēor — see dear entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

1694, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

dear 1 of 2

adjective

as in valuable

commanding a large price caviar has always been among the dearest of foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

valuable
precious
expensive
costly
premium
high
extravagant
priceless
pricey
luxurious
spendy
pricy
high-ticket
exorbitant
steep
invaluable
inestimable
ultraexpensive
unreasonable
prohibitive
high-end
big-ticket
unaffordable
uneconomic
overpriced
deluxe
sky-high
sumptuous
uneconomical
stiff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reasonable
cheap
inexpensive
worthless
moderate
valueless
discounted

as in beloved

granted special treatment or attention spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

beloved
cherished
loved
precious
darling
sweet
favorite
adored
special
pet
favored
fond
fair-haired
esteemed
white-headed
admired
appreciated
treasured
revered
relished
prized
preferred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unbeloved
despised
detested
hated
forgotten
disliked
ignored
abhorred
disdained
disfavored
execrated
estranged
abandoned
unfavorite
abominated
alienated
loathed

as in adorable

having qualities that tend to make one loved a dear friend that I would do anything for

Synonyms & Similar Words

adorable
sweet
precious
darling
loved
lovely
beautiful
beloved
lovable
cherished
endearing
charming
winsome
winning
loveable
enchanting
lovesome
attractive
treasured
disarming
favorite
delightful
favored
kind
desirable
admirable
cheerful
appealing
fascinating
pleasant
embraceable
alluring
nice
pleasing
captivating
kissable
gracious
reputable
fetching
entrancing
engaging
friendly
likable
respectable
agreeable
affable
cordial
good-tempered
good-natured
genial
likeable
well-disposed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

odious
loathsome
hateful
detestable
wretched
abominable
unpleasant
horrible
disagreeable
abhorrent
lousy
contemptible
unloved
disgusting
ugly
nasty
offensive
frightful
hideous
distasteful
awful
repulsive
repugnant
monstrous
heinous
unlovable
grotesque
dreadful
vile
unattractive
horrid
shocking
appalling
repellent
obnoxious
scandalous
ill-favored
sickening
unsightly
foul
revolting
obscene
unlikable
horrendous
ogreish
noisome
nauseating
repellant

dear

2 of 2

noun

as in darling

a person with whom one is in love I love you, dear

Synonyms & Similar Words

darling
sweetheart
sweetie
beloved
sweet
love
girlfriend
wife
lover
hon
husband
boyfriend
girl
flame
truelove
honey
boy
mistress
sweetie pie
bride
fellow
squeeze
gal
lass
beau
paramour
pet
man
admirer
swain
steady
doll
amour
gallant
wooer
inamorata
ladylove
tootsie
date
groom
escort
fiancé
suitor
significant other
intended
duck(s)
crush
heartthrob

单词	dear
释义	dear 1 of 5 adjective (1) ˈdir 1 : highly valued : precious a dear friend Our friendship is very dear to me. ran for dear life —often used in a salutation dear Sir 2 : affectionate, fond 3 : high or exorbitant in price : expensive eggs are very dear just now 4 : heartfelt our dearest prayers 5 obsolete : noble dearness noun dear 2 of 5 adverb 1 : dearly sense 3 the effort cost them dear 2 : dearly sense 1 so dear I loved the man—William Shakespeare dear 3 of 5 noun 1 : a loved one : sweetheart How was your day, dear? 2 : a lovable person Be a dear and get me a drink. dear 4 of 5 interjection —used especially to express annoyance or dismay Oh dear! dear 5 of 5 adjective (2) : severe, sore in our dear peril—William Shakespeare Synonyms Adjective (1) big-ticket costly expensive extravagant high high-end high-ticket precious premium priceless pricey pricy spendy [chiefly Northwest] ultraexpensive valuable Noun beloved darling flame hon honey love squeeze [slang] sweet sweetheart sweetie sweetie pie truelove See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Noun Be a dear and take this for me. Recent Examples on the Web Noun The little dear has always been a particular favorite of mine. —Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023 On Tuesday, in honor of the Martin Luther King holiday, Marian and Valerie will speak to a Zoom audience about a subject dear to their hearts. —Bo Emerson, ajc, 13 Jan. 2023 El Malei Rachamim or God of Compassion is a plea to God to please allow the dear departed to rest peacefully throughout eternity. —Ellyn Laub, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2022 As Russia’s war against Ukraine stretches into another month, Ukrainians and Western nations are in suspense for how the Kremlin will celebrate a day dear to Russian history. —Washington Post, 12 Apr. 2022 Male deer account for nearly twice as many deer harvested by shotgun or rifle and by landowners, according to state data, but female dear are more susceptible to death due to crop damage. —Seamus Mcavoy, courant.com, 15 Nov. 2021 But are its patches of grass and sand dear to locals? —Caroline Spivack, Curbed, 1 Mar. 2021 Adjective The important tasks are those that need our attention to reach our goals and accomplish the projects that are very dear to us. —Lidija Globokar, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2023 This particular aesthetic theme is something Hearst holds dear, looking towards the future, not with a solid, determined plan, but with the hope that innovation and passion for design will pave the way forward. —Kevin Leblanc, ELLE, 15 Feb. 2023 Talk to him, dear letter writer, and prepare to move on. —Meredith Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Feb. 2023 His romantic view of the conflict is shattered on his first night in the cold trenches, surrounded by death and disaster, and dealt a tragic blow with the easy, meaningless loss of a dear friend. —WIRED, 10 Feb. 2023 This troubling cultural current has now made it to our dear cut-paper Coloradan suburb, reiterated as a rumor going around school that Kyle Broflovski controls Hollywood. —Charles Bramesco, Chron, 9 Feb. 2023 Thank you, dear @SecBlinken for the warm welcome in Washington, DC. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2023 The late Bill Wittliff, who was a dear friend, used to have an office in an old house on Baylor Street. —Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023 In researching the story of his disappearance, Jason Nark attempts to come to terms with his own grief over a dear friend’s suicide. —Krista Stevens, Longreads, 1 Feb. 2023 See More Word History Etymology Adjective (1), Adverb, Noun, and Interjection Middle English dere, from Old English dēore; akin to Old High German tiuri distinguished, costly Adjective (2) Middle English dere, from Old English dēor — see dear entry 1 First Known Use Adjective (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5 Adverb before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun 13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Interjection 1694, in the meaning defined above Adjective (2) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing dear close/dear/near to one's heart cost (someone) dearly/dear for dear life near and dear to her heart near and dear close/dear/near to one's heart cost (someone) dearly/dear for dear life near and dear to her heart near and dear Kids Definition dear 1 of 2 adjective ˈdi(ə)r 1 : highly valued : precious 2 —used as a form of address in letters and sometimes in speech Dear Sir 3 : high-priced : expensive 4 : deeply and earnestly felt my dearest wish dear adverb dearly adverb dearness noun dear 2 of 2 noun : a loved one : darling dear 1 of 2 adjective 1 as in valuable commanding a large price caviar has always been among the dearest of foods Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance valuable precious expensive costly premium high extravagant priceless pricey luxurious spendy pricy high-ticket exorbitant steep invaluable inestimable ultraexpensive unreasonable prohibitive high-end big-ticket unaffordable uneconomic overpriced deluxe sky-high sumptuous uneconomical stiff Antonyms & Near Antonyms reasonable cheap inexpensive worthless moderate valueless discounted See More 2 as in beloved granted special treatment or attention spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog Synonyms & Similar Words beloved cherished loved precious darling sweet favorite adored special pet favored fond fair-haired esteemed white-headed admired appreciated treasured revered relished prized preferred Antonyms & Near Antonyms unbeloved despised detested hated forgotten disliked ignored abhorred disdained disfavored execrated estranged abandoned unfavorite abominated alienated loathed See More 3 as in adorable having qualities that tend to make one loved a dear friend that I would do anything for Synonyms & Similar Words adorable sweet precious darling loved lovely beautiful beloved lovable cherished endearing charming winsome winning loveable enchanting lovesome attractive treasured disarming favorite delightful favored kind desirable admirable cheerful appealing fascinating pleasant embraceable alluring nice pleasing captivating kissable gracious reputable fetching entrancing engaging friendly likable respectable agreeable affable cordial good-tempered good-natured genial likeable well-disposed Antonyms & Near Antonyms odious loathsome hateful detestable wretched abominable unpleasant horrible disagreeable abhorrent lousy contemptible unloved disgusting ugly nasty offensive frightful hideous distasteful awful repulsive repugnant monstrous heinous unlovable grotesque dreadful vile unattractive horrid shocking appalling repellent obnoxious scandalous ill-favored sickening unsightly foul revolting obscene unlikable horrendous ogreish noisome nauseating repellant See More dear 2 of 2 noun as in darling a person with whom one is in love I love you, dear Synonyms & Similar Words darling sweetheart sweetie beloved sweet love girlfriend wife lover hon husband boyfriend girl flame truelove honey boy mistress sweetie pie bride fellow squeeze gal lass beau paramour pet man admirer swain steady doll amour gallant wooer inamorata ladylove tootsie date groom escort fiancé suitor significant other intended duck(s) crush heartthrob
随便看	inartificial inartificially inartistic inartistically inasmuch as inattention inattentions inattentive inattentively inattentiveness inattentivenesses inaudibilities inaudibility inaudible inaudiblenesses inaudibly inaugural inaugurals inaugurate inaugurated inaugurates inaugurating inauguration Inauguration Day inaugurations

dear

adjective (1)

adverb

noun

interjection

adjective (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing dear

Kids Definition

adjective

noun