beloved

[ bih-luhv-id, -luhvd ]

adjective

1. greatly loved; dear to the heart.

   Synonyms: darling, sweet, precious

noun

1. a person who is greatly loved.

beloved

/ bɪˈlʌvɪd; -ˈlʌvd /

adjective

1. dearly loved

noun

1. a person who is dearly loved, such as a wife or husband

Other Words From

• prebe·loved adjective noun
• super·be·loved adjective
• unbe·loved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of beloved¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English biloved “loved,” past participle of biloven “to like, love”; equivalent to be- + love + -ed ²

Example Sentences

She has kept the left’s beloved Green New Deal at arm’s length too, as moderates fret about blowback.

From Washington Post

The only privation we have these days is when one of our beloved brands goes mainstream and becomes easier to find in Ralph’s than at our mercaditos — I’m talking to you, Topo Chico.

From Eater

Our chosen name StarTech recalls a beloved sci-fi TV series, and it’s remarkable that the top cast in both StarTech and Star Trek remained pretty much the same over the years, though for StarTech, the supporting players changed substantially.

From Fortune

Wilder’s beloved film noir, which he co-wrote with Charles Brackett, is one of those classics that stands the test of time.

From Washington Blade

Crystal Palace at the first world’s fair in 1851They’re iconic now, but the two beloved sculptures might easily never have been.

From Ozy

Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.

From The Daily Beast

You will have your beloved father back sooner than you think, and you can visit and communicate with him all the while.

From The Daily Beast

Author J.K. Rowling says all religions are present at her beloved wizard school—except Wiccans.

From The Daily Beast

Castro actually flew up to Montreal to be a pallbearer at the 2000 funeral of a beloved Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.

From The Daily Beast

Restaurant described latkes as “Mini hash browns,” which he thinks is why they are so universally beloved.

From The Daily Beast

It seemed strange to me to be passing the room of my beloved Goethe, with our equally beloved Liszt!

From Project Gutenberg

Our beloved Queen had drawn the teeth of the Turkish counter-attack on our extreme left.

From Project Gutenberg

And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.

From Project Gutenberg

In his own person, he was now convinced of the truth of his father's charge against this once beloved Wharton.

From Project Gutenberg

Dame Dorothy Packington sent the trusty and well beloved Thos.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admired
• cherished
• dear
• esteemed
• favorite
• hallowed
• loved
• popular
• prized
• respected
• revered
• treasured
• venerated
• well-liked