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

Examples of dear in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

caviar has always been among the dearest of foods

spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog

a dear friend that I would do anything for

Noun

Be a dear and take this for me.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Decked out for the holidays While the angel ornaments sit in a glass case, Donna holds two ornaments on the dining room Christmas tree dear. —Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 14 Nov. 2024

At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song. —Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024

Adjective

This lovely man who was quite a dear friend, having worked together so closely, he was simply gone. —Rachel Martin, NPR, 8 Dec. 2024

In 2019, Martin said goodbye to dear friends, including her former husband's family, and left to join her brother in a sunny, remote huddle of mobile homes in Arizona called Bouse. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024

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
• near and dear to her heart

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