dear

[ deer ]

/ dɪər /

adjective, dear·er, dear·est.

beloved or loved: a dear friend.

(used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting): Dear Sir.

precious in one's regard; cherished: our dearest possessions.

heartfelt; earnest: one's dearest wish.

high-priced; expensive: The silk dress was too dear.

charging high prices: That shop is too dear for my budget.

excessive; high: a dear price to pay for one's independence.

Obsolete. difficult to get; scarce.

Obsolete. worthy; honorable.

noun

a person who is good, kind, or generous: You're a dear to help me with the work.

a beloved one.

(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to a stranger, subordinate, etc.)

adverb

dearly; fondly.

at a high price: That painting cost me dear.

interjection

(used as an exclamation of surprise, distress, etc.): Oh dear, what a disappointment! Dear me! What's all that noise?

Nearby words

dean's list, deane, deanery, deanna, deanthropomorphism, dear, dear john, dear john letter, dear me, dearborn, dearborn heights

Origin of dear

before 900; Middle English dere, Old English dēore; cognate with Old High German tiuri, Old Norse dȳrr

SYNONYMS FOR dear

1 darling, cherished.

5 See expensive.

Related forms

dear·ly, adverbdear·ness, noun

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

Examples from the Web for dears

Ah, my dears, I hope no one of you will ever be tempted as I was tempted then.
The Master of Appleby|Francis Lynde
"I am not in the least tired, thank you, dears," she replied.
The Yates Pride|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
"Now go to your plays, dears, and let sister rest till she feels better," said their mother.
Mildred Keith|Martha Finley
I believe it will astonish you, too, my dears, when you hear it.
The Road to Oz|L. Frank Baum

Nay, my dears, why blush at being detected in your everyday pursuits?
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit|Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for dears

dear

/ (dɪə) /

adjective

beloved; precious

used in conventional forms of address preceding a title or name, as in Dear Sir or my dear Mr Smith

(postpositive foll by to) important; closea wish dear to her heart

highly priced
charging high prices

appealing or prettywhat a dear little ring!

for dear life urgently or with extreme vigour or desperation

interjection

used in exclamations of surprise or dismay, such as Oh dear! and dear me!

noun

(often used in direct address) someone regarded with affection and tenderness; darling

adverb

dearlyhis errors have cost him dear

Derived Forms

dearness, noun

Word Origin for dear

Old English dēore; related to Old Norse dӯrr

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

Idioms and Phrases with dears

dear

In addition to the idiom beginning with dear

dear me

also see:

for dear life
nearest and dearest

dear

adjective, dear·er, dear·est.

noun

adverb

interjection

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of dear

SYNONYMS FOR dear

Related forms

Examples from the Web for dears

British Dictionary definitions for dears

dear

adjective

interjection

noun

adverb

Derived Forms

Word Origin for dear

Idioms and Phrases with dears

dear