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endear

American  
[en-deer] / ɛnˈdɪər /

verb (used with object)

endears, present (3rd person singular) endeared, past participle, past endearing present participle
  1. to make dear, esteemed, or beloved.

    He endeared himself to his friends with his gentle ways.

  2. Obsolete. to make costly.


endear British  
/ ɪnˈdɪə /

verb

  1. (tr) to cause to be beloved or esteemed

"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

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Etymology

Origin of endear

First recorded in 1570–80; en- 1 + dear 1

Explanation

Things that endear you to others — like your sense of humor or your skill at baking chocolate chip cookies — cause them to be fond of you. The verb endear is almost always followed by the word "to," as in the sentence "The teacher's ready smile and gentle voice endear him to the class of kindergartners." When something endears you to another person, he or she adores you. In the 1500s, endear meant "increase the value of," though it quickly came to mean "make dear," or perhaps to increase the emotional value, especially of another person.

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Vocabulary lists containing endear

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.

Closer to home, securing a deal in Venezuela would endear Exxon to President Trump, who is pushing for U.S. energy companies to invest $100 billion to repair the country’s dilapidated oil-and-gas infrastructure.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

One surefire way to endear yourself to your favorite eatery is to evangelize for it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

As one can imagine, this does nothing to endear Carol to Laxmi.

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025

It should endear a double World Cup winner and modern-day stalwart even further to the English sporting public.

From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025

The new heir apparent soon had an opportunity to endear himself to the Athenians.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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