dear
1beloved or loved: a dear friend.
(used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting): Dear Sir.
precious in one's regard; cherished: our dearest possessions.
heartfelt; earnest: one's dearest wish.
high-priced; expensive: The silk dress was too dear.
charging high prices: That shop is too dear for my budget.
excessive; high: a dear price to pay for one's independence.
Obsolete. difficult to get; scarce.
Obsolete. worthy; honorable.
a person who is good, kind, or generous: You're a dear to help me with the work.
a beloved one.
(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.)
dearly; fondly.
at a high price: That painting cost me dear.
(used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?
Origin of dear
1synonym study For dear
Other words for dear
1 | darling, cherished |
Other words from dear
- dearly, adverb
- dearness, noun
Other definitions for dear (2 of 2)
or dere
hard; grievous.
Origin of dear
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use dear in a sentence
“Dearest ladies with families,” he begins, sitting in a suit in a well-decorated room.
The Punk Behind Iran's Only Vampire Spaghetti Western-Style Love Story | Melissa Leon | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGenerally the states dearest to the current ruling class: New York, Illinois, California and New Jersey.
Forget What the Pundits Tell You, Coastal Cities are Old News - it’s the Sunbelt that’s Booming | Joel Kotkin | March 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDearest love to you, every day, always, dearest potato-pipe.
Leonard Bernstein Asked About Hemingway, So Martha Gellhorn Set the Record Straight | Leonard Bernstein, Martha Gellhorn | October 27, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHis subsequent marriages were primarily to form alliances with his nearest and dearest as well as with more remote followers.
Mohammad Was Not a Womanizer, and Other Common Misconceptions About Islam Debunked | Olga M. Davidson | September 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTBut nearest and dearest to his heart is his humanitarian work.
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas Sounds Off on Republicans at the DNC | Marlow Stern | September 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
I broke right into his story and seized the lapel of his waistcoat as though he were my dearest friend.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydDo not make any display of affection for even your dearest friend; kissing in public, or embracing, are in bad taste.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence HartleyWe find Wilkes as a poseur on literature in one of these entertaining letters to “dearest Polly.”
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. HarperAt that time I had no desire to marry George of Blanchelande, but to-day it is my dearest wish that he should ask to marry me.
Honey-Bee | Anatole FranceFurther still, all our dearest interests lie beyond the domains of physical science, in the regions of faith.
Gospel Philosophy | J. H. Ward
British Dictionary definitions for dear
/ (dɪə) /
beloved; precious
used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith
(postpositive foll by to) important; close: a wish dear to her heart
highly priced
charging high prices
appealing or pretty: what a dear little ring!
for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation
used in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me!
(often used in direct address) someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darling
dearly: his errors have cost him dear
Origin of dear
1Derived forms of dear
- dearness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with dear
In addition to the idiom beginning with dear
- dear me
also see:
- for dear life
- nearest and dearest
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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