dear

[ deer ]

/ dɪər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dear ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, dear·er, dear·est.

beloved 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.

noun

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.)

adverb

dearly; fondly.

at a high price: That painting cost me dear.

interjection

(used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?

Origin of dear

before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr

SYNONYMS FOR dear

1 darling, cherished.

5 See expensive.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR dear ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM dear

dear·ly, adverb dear·ness, noun

Words nearby dear

dean's list, deane, deanery, deanna, deanthropomorphism, dear, dear john, dear john letter, dear me, dearborn, dearborn heights

Definition for dear (2 of 2)

dear ²

or dere

[ deer ]

/ dɪər /

adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.

hard; grievous.

Origin of dear

before 1000; Middle English dere, Old English dēor brave, bold, severe

British Dictionary definitions for dear

dear

/ (dɪə) /

adjective

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

interjection

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

noun

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

adverb

dearly his errors have cost him dear

Derived forms of dear

dearness, noun

Word Origin for dear

Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dӯrr

Idioms and Phrases with dear

dear

In addition to the idiom beginning with dear

dear me

also see:

for dear life
nearest and dearest

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dear

adjective, dear·er, dear·est.

noun

adverb

interjection

Origin of dear

SYNONYMS FOR dear

OTHER WORDS FROM dear

Words nearby dear

Definition for dear (2 of 2)

or dere

adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.

Origin of dear

British Dictionary definitions for dear

adjective

interjection

noun

adverb

Derived forms of dear

Word Origin for dear

Idioms and Phrases with dear

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

dear

adjective, dear·er, dear·est.

noun

adverb

interjection

Origin of dear

SYNONYMS FOR dear

OTHER WORDS FROM dear

Words nearby dear

Definition for dear (2 of 2)

or dere

adjective, dear·er, dear·est. Archaic.

Origin of dear

Words related to dear

British Dictionary definitions for dear

adjective

interjection

noun

adverb

Derived forms of dear

Word Origin for dear

Idioms and Phrases with dear