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View synonyms for

dear

1

[deer]

adjective

dearer, dearest 
  1. beloved or loved.

    a dear friend.

    Synonyms:
  2. (used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting).

    Dear Sir.

  3. precious in one's regard; cherished.

    our dearest possessions.

  4. heartfelt; earnest.

    one's dearest wish.

  5. high-priced; expensive.

    The silk dress was too dear.

  6. charging high prices.

    That shop is too dear for my budget.

  7. excessive; high.

    a dear price to pay for one's independence.

  8. Obsolete.difficult to get; scarce.

  9. Obsolete.worthy; honorable.



noun

  1. a person who is good, kind, or generous.

    You're a dear to help me with the work.

  2. a beloved one.

  3. (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.)

adverb

  1. dearly; fondly.

  2. at a high price.

    That painting cost me dear.

interjection

  1. (used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.).

    Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! 's all that noise?

dear

2
Or dere

[deer]

adjective

Archaic.
dearer, dearest 
  1. hard; grievous.

dear

/ ɪə /

adjective

  1. beloved; precious

  2. used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith

  3. important; close

    a wish dear to her heart

    1. highly priced

    2. charging high prices

  4. appealing or pretty

    what a dear little ring!

  5. urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation

“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

interjection

  1. used in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me!

“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

noun

  1. (often used in direct address) someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darling

“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

adverb

  1. dearly

    his errors have cost him dear

“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
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Other Word Forms

  • dearly adverb
  • dearness noun
  • ˈ𲹰Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dear1

First recorded before 900; Middle English dere, deire, Old English ŧǰe, dīore, dȳre; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse ̄

Origin of dear2

First recorded before 1000; Middle English dere “fierce, hard,” Old English ŧǰ “brave, bold, severe”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dear1

Old English ŧǰe; related to Old Norse ӯ
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with dear, also see for dear life; nearest and dearest.
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Why, then, would you invite someone like that — someone who has insulted you and threatened to take all you hold dear — into your home?

From

In a statement last week, Mr Phan's family described him as a a beloved husband, father, brother and dear friend.

From

The palace, which displays such items in its vast museum collection, expressed an interest in buying the chairs but the price was deemed too dear.

From

Hahn: There can be some that are very emotional, so it’s really dear, and I want to engage with everybody because I’m so happy they showed up.

From

This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.

From

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