Definition Synonyms
Definition of dear - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
relationshipused to address someone affectionately
- My dear John, I hope you are well.
2.
valueprecious or greatly valued
- This necklace is very dear to me.
3.
affectionloved or cherished by someone
- She is a dear friend of mine.
4.
costUK high in price or expensiveUK
- The dress was too dear for my budget.
5.
kindnessDated lovely or kind in natureDated
- He is such a dear person, always helping others.
Noun
1.
term of endearmentaffectionate term used between close individuals
- Goodnight, dear.
2.
beloved personperson who is loved or cherished
- She is such a dear to everyone.
3.
familyDated UK sweet, innocent childDated UK
- The little dear was playing in the garden.
Adverb
1.
businessUK at a high price or costUK
- He paid dear for his mistake.
2.
emotionDated with great affection or fondnessDated
- She held him dear in her heart.
Expressions with dear
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expression of dismay or concern
Oh dear, I forgot my keys.
feel deep love or value for someone or something
She holds her family dear to her heart.
express agreement or acknowledgment in a gentle manner
"Can you take out the trash?" "Yes, dear."
be expensive in terms of money or resources
The repairs will cost dear.
very important or emotionally special to someone
This handmade bracelet is dear to my heart because Grandma crafted it.
act kindly by doing a favor for someone
Be a dear and pass me the salt.
with extreme effort as if survival depends on it
She held on for dear life during the storm.
make someone pay a high price
The repairs cost her dear after the accident.
letter to end a romantic relationship
She sent him a dear John letter.
emotionally significant or cherished
This locket is dear to my heart as it was my grandmother's.
very close and important to someone
Her family is near and dear to her.
purchase low-priced items to sell at higher prices
He aims to buy cheap sell dear in the stock market.
very simple or obvious to understand
Solving this puzzle is elementary, dear Watson.
opening line in a diary entry
Dear diary, today was an amazing day!
person you have a close relationship with
She wrote a letter to her dear friend.
used to address all recipients in a message
Dear all, please find the meeting agenda attached.
personal experience worth writing in a diary
Her first kiss was a dear diary moment.
expression of horror or dismay
Dear God, what happened here?
person deserving sympathy or pity
She lost her job, the poor dear.
is very important or loved by someone
This old photo is dear to my heart.
shows dismay or concern about something
Dear, dear, dear, this is not what we expected.
money that is expensive to borrow due to high interest rates
During the recession, dear money affected small businesses.
used to express surprise
Dear me, I forgot my keys!
elderly woman referred to affectionately or condescendingly
The old dear smiled as she fed the birds.
Origin of dear
Old English, deore (precious)
Terms with dear included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
relationship
person who is dear to one
affectionate term
very dear and loved
relationship
term of endearment for someone dear
affection commitment
feel deep affection and hold dear with care and respect
precious thing
something very precious or dear
dear one
someone who is loved deeply
endearment
term of affection for someone dear
value
process of holding something dear
emotion
hold something dear or cherish it
relationship
person very dear or important to someone
admirer
one who holds something dear
acr: dear husband
affectionate way to refer to one's husband
acr: dear wife
affectionate way to refer to one's wife
affection
term of endearment for someone dear
Examples of dear in a sentence
My dear friend, I cherish our memories. Her childhood home is dear to her heart. The old book is dear to collectors. He gave his dear mother a hug. This book is very dear to me. Luxury items are often dear in this store.
The hotel room was dear, but worth it. That was a dear gesture after a difficult day. Our dear neighbor brought soup when I was ill. Thank you for the gift, dear. How was your day, dear? He is my dear and always will be. Goodnight, my dear, sleep well. The dear was tucked in bed by her mother. Everyone adored the dear at the family gathering. The rare book was bought dear at the auction. They learned dear lessons from the financial crisis. He spoke of her dear to his friends. The memories were held dear by the family.
View all translations of dear
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:cher, chérie, ...
- German:lieb, Liebling, ...
- Italian:caro, tesoro, ...
- Spanish:querido, cariño, ...
- Portuguese:querido, amor, ...
- Chinese:亲爱的, 宝贝, ...
- Japanese:親愛なる, 親愛なる人, ...
- Arabic:عَزِيز, عَزِيزِي, ...
- Hebrew:יָקָר, יְקִירִי, ...
- Russian:дорогой, дорогой человек, ...
- Ukrainian:дорогий, дорога, ...
- Hindi:प्रिय, डियर, ...
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