beloved
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Michelle Obama's Speech at the 2016 DNC
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Last week, a still-unconfirmed report in Puck stated that Netflix is entering initial talks to acquire Letterboxd, the film-logging and review platform beloved by hardcore and casual cinephiles alike.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026
Even with the large metal device encircling her body for hours each day for most of her life, Lillard found a way to drive a vehicle, took up painting and cared for her beloved beagles.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
When Faye’s beloved college professor dies suddenly and she’s asked to speak at a memorial ceremony, nostalgia and flattery make her drop everything and hightail it back to the leafy northeastern college town.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
This reboot stays true to the books’ rich realism without forgoing the warmth of the beloved 1970s series.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
His beloved swimming hole had become a bit of a deathtrap: twice as deep and roaring by at a thunderous speed.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
But mostly, I now truly dress for myself and my beloveds, who all want me to be comfortable and have a good time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2024
“The biggest gift by far of these two movies for me is just the friendships with these beloveds in my life,” Steenburgen said.
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2023
Fittingly, Pru, who’d long felt ashamed for lacking a defining passion, will demonstrate consummate passion in her nonstop exertions to care for beloveds and, never least, to survive.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 20, 2021
All those beloveds Sneed names who withered, went blind or “disappeared like thousands of bits of paper,” friends who were her family as well as her education.
From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2020
"The hours she spent trying to fix her beloveds stretched into eternity after eternity, until..."
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
