DEAR

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does dear mean? 

• DEAR (noun)
  The noun DEAR has 2 senses:

1. a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

2. a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

  Familiarity information: DEAR used as a noun is rare.

• DEAR (adjective)
  The adjective DEAR has 4 senses:

1. dearly loved

2. with or in a close or intimate relationship

3. sincerely earnest

4. having a high price

  Familiarity information: DEAR used as an adjective is uncommon.

• DEAR (adverb)
  The adverb DEAR has 2 senses:

1. with affection

2. at a great cost

  Familiarity information: DEAR used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A beloved person; used as terms of endearment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

beloved; dear; dearest; honey; love

Hypernyms ("dear" is a kind of...):

lover (a person who loves someone or is loved by someone)

Derivation:

dear (dearly loved)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

dear; lamb

Hypernyms ("dear" is a kind of...):

inexperienced person; innocent (a person who lacks knowledge of evil)

• DEAR (adjective)

Comparative: dearer   
Superlative: dearest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dearly loved

Synonyms:

beloved; darling; dear

Similar:

loved (held dear)

Derivation:

dear (a beloved person; used as terms of endearment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

With or in a close or intimate relationship

Synonyms:

dear; good; near

Context example:

my sisters and brothers are near and dear

Similar:

close (close in relevance or relationship)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Sincerely earnest

Synonyms:

dear; devout; earnest; heartfelt

Context example:

heartfelt condolences

Similar:

sincere (open and genuine; not deceitful)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Having a high price

Synonyms:

costly; dear; high-priced; pricey; pricy

Context example:

a pricey restaurant

Similar:

expensive (high in price or charging high prices)

Derivation:

dearness (the quality possessed by something with a great price or value)

• DEAR (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

With affection

Synonyms:

affectionately; dear; dearly

Context example:

he treats her affectionately

Sense 2

Meaning:

At a great cost

Synonyms:

dear; dearly

Context example:

this cost him dear

 Context examples 

Dear me, how did I get talking about him?

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“My dear Inspector, you surpass yourself!”

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My dear wife knew that I had business in the City.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You thought you did not let me know that dear worry of yours, but I did, and I wanted to—'to make good,' as Martin Eden says.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Certainly, my dear Jane,” faltered my mother, meekly.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

No man knows till he has suffered from the night how sweet and how dear to his heart and eye the morning can be.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“The poor dears! Now you must promise you won’t be harsh with them for the rest of the trip, or I won’t go a step.”

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

As Jo received her good-night kiss, Mrs. March whispered gently, "My dear, don't let the sun go down upon your anger. Forgive each other, help each other, and begin again tomorrow."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Up that staircase the way led to the love-master and to the love- master's dearest possessions.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

She threw her head back in a queenly way but said, “Dear, dear Endeavour Island! I shall always love it.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)