darling

[ dahr-ling ]

/ ˈdɑr lɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR darling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person very dear to another; one dearly loved.

(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address.

a person or thing in great favor; a favorite: She was the darling of café society.

adjective

very dear; dearly loved: my darling child.

favorite; cherished.

Informal. charming; cute; lovable: What a darling baby!

Nearby words

darksome, darktown, darky, darlan, darlene, darling, darling downs, darling range, darling river, darling's disease, darling, jay norwood

Origin of darling

before 900; Middle English derling, Old English dēorling. See dear¹, -ling¹

Related forms

dar·ling·ly, adverbdar·ling·ness, noun

Definition for darling (2 of 2)

Darling

[ dahr-ling ]

/ ˈdɑr lɪŋ /

noun

Jay Nor·wood

[nawr-woo d] /ˈnɔr wʊd/, Ding, 1876–1962, U.S. political cartoonist.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for darling

Kerry Washington - Scandal Is there room for only one Shonda Rhimes darling in Best Actress in a Drama?
15 Enraging Golden Globe TV Snubs and Surprises: Amy Poehler, 'Mad Men' & More|Kevin Fallon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take Joni Ernst, a GOP darling now favored to be the next senator from Iowa.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday|Jonathan Alter|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I'm going to use it to stop all arguments in the future, about anything: "Can't make dinner tonight, darling, children might die."
Bill Maher Finds the Worst Congressman in America|Ana Marie Cox|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Darling makes it very clear that this is not just a show about a pop star, no matter how much buzz his name generates.
The Making—and Remaking—of David Bowie|Justin Jones|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

LSD, an illicit drug with a serious stigma, was once the darling of the psychotherapy world.
Psychedelics Are Ready for a Comeback|Abby Haglage|September 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No, darling, they are humbugging you, because they were afraid lest their plan should be known.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 6|Guy de Maupassant
I could only show him where he could find help, my darling, and I do not think he cares to have me tell him.
Bessie at the Sea-Side|Joanna Mathews
Bet is such a darling, I could not bring myself to part with her.
Mollie's Prince|Rosa Nouchette Carey
Rose, darling,' he exclaimed, 'the favorite of my heart—will no one save you?'
The Ned M'Keown Stories|William Carleton
Bindlecombe clasped his hands nervously; he was acutely distressed—and not only for the threatened loss of his darling Institute.
The Great Miss Driver|Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for darling (1 of 2)

darling

/ (ˈdɑːlɪŋ) /

noun

a person very much loved: often used as a term of address

a favouritethe teacher's darling

adjective (prenominal)

beloved

much admired; pleasinga darling hat

Word Origin for darling

Old English dēorling; see dear, -ling 1

British Dictionary definitions for darling (2 of 2)

Darling

/ (ˈdɑːlɪŋ) /

noun

Grace. 1815–42, English national heroine, famous for her rescue (1838) of some shipwrecked sailors with her father, a lighthouse keeper

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012