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 Word Forms

• prebeloved adjective
• superbeloved adjective
• unbeloved 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

But it’s also what made Candy so beloved: As funny as he was, he could turn on a dime to remind us that even the grandest personalities are human at their core.

Read more on Salon

Journalists often lap up these headline-grabbing moments, with no shortage of people across Birmingham willing to stand up for their beloved city and community.

Read more on BBC

After helming big-name college programs at Notre Dame and Arizona State for three decades, the 66-year-old Pat Murphy has become one of the most beloved characters in professional baseball in recent years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But what was once a beloved attraction with a catchy commercial jingle has faced growing scrutiny over its care for animals, which also included land animals like bears and elk.

Read more on BBC

Baseball fans in the Pacific Northwest waited 24 years to see their beloved Seattle Mariners earn a chance to compete for the American League pennant.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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