Dear Definition & Meaning

dear
adverb
  1. with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately"
  2. at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear"
adjective
  1. dearly loved
  2. with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
  3. earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"
  4. having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant"
noun
  1. a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
  2. a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

Synonyms for dear

affectionately adv

with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately"

♫ Rhymes
beloved adj

dearly loved a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
close adv

near in time or place or relationship; "as the wedding day drew near"; "stood near the door

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
costly adj

entailing great loss or sacrifice; "a dearly-won victory" having a high price; "costly jewelry

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
darling adj

dearly loved a special loved one an Australian river; tributary of the Murray River

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
dearest noun

a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
dearly adv

in a sincere and heartfelt manner; "I would dearly love to know" at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food

♫ Rhymes
devout adj

deeply religious; "a god-fearing and law-abiding people" H.L.Mencken earnest; "one's dearest wish

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
earnest adj

characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
good adv

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (`good' is a

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Dear" in song lyrics

See how dear is used in real songs:

  • "So long my motherfuckin' dear"
    2 Live Crew — 2 Live Blues
  • "It's all about the paper here, so hear my dear"
    Above the Law f/ Kokane — Kalifornia
  • "I won't be getting dressed up to impress your family dear"
    Aesop Rock f/ Pfac — Cook it Up

Words that rhyme with dear

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Usage tips for "dear"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "dear" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for dear to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with dear ↔ Synonyms for dear 🔬 Words containing dear

Frequently asked questions

What does dear mean?
with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately" at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear" dearly loved with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear" earnest; "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences" having a high price; "costly jewelry"; "high-priced merchandise"; "much too dear for my pocketbook"; "a pricey restaurant" a beloved person
What part of speech is dear?
Dear is an adverb, an adjective, and a noun.
How many definitions does dear have?
Dear has 8 definitions across 3 parts of speech (adverb, adjective, noun).

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