beloved
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- prebeloved adjective
- superbeloved adjective
- unbeloved adjective
Etymology
Origin of beloved
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English biloved “loved,” past participle of biloven “to like, love”; equivalent to be- + love + -ed 2
Compare meaning
How does beloved compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Your beloved is someone you love. You can also talk about a beloved pet or possession. You probably have some things you really love: a bike, a skateboard, a book, a DVD, maybe a souvenir from a trip. Those are beloved possessions — you really like them a lot. People also talk about beloved family members, beloved pets, and beloved friends. This is a word for things and people you're crazy about. And if you're feeling really crazy on Valentine's Day, go ahead and tell your crush that she's your beloved.
Vocabulary lists containing beloved
Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Our hero, a young goatkeeper named Bernadette the Brave, has embarked on a quest to save her beloved pet turtle from a tyrannical king.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Puppeteers, dressed in the classic Bob Baker red from head to toe, brought out some of the company’s beloved icons — including the show’s host, Pink Cat, adorned in sequins and jewelry.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
Virtually all analysts are on the same page, with Broadcom remaining one of the most beloved megacap stocks on Wall Street.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
At the time, he told Bloomberg, he was ready to part ways with his beloved seven-bedroom residence because his children had grown up, leaving him with no use for such a large property.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
Her beloved iPhone has been out of her grasp for two hours, which may be the longest my sister has ever lasted without social media.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
