Showing results for "loved"

• past participle of love.
• past tense form of love.

loved

American  

[luhvd] / lʌvd /

adjective

1. held in deep affection; cherished.

   loved companions; much-loved friends.

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Other Word Forms

• unloved
  adjective
• well-loved
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of loved

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; love ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does loved compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• beloved vs. loved

Explanation

Your loved ones are the most important people in your life, usually your family members and closest friends. The adjective loved can describe anything you especially cherish. If you have objects, places, pets, or people in your life that you adore, you know what it means when something is loved. A toddler might insist on bringing her loved teddy bear everywhere. You'll often find this adjective modified by words like "well" or "much," and synonyms include "cherished" and "beloved."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loved

Families of deployed sailors have pushed back, accusing Trump and Hegseth of dismissing what their loved ones have experienced aboard the ship.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

It is borne heavily by spouses and parents, who watch the news with a knot in their stomach, worrying endlessly about the physical safety, mental strain and welfare of their loved ones.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Many Americans don’t have time to cook regularly or sit down and eat with loved ones.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026

Dozens of patients were moved Saturday to tents erected outside the Ruteng hospital, many with their loved ones by their side.

From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026

She crawls into bed, desperate to get better, and relies on help from loved ones to care for Cynthia.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Related Words

• adored
• beloved
• cherished