Synonyms

endear

American

[en-deer] / ɛnˈdɪər /

verb (used with object)

to make dear, esteemed, or beloved.

He endeared himself to his friends with his gentle ways.
Obsolete. to make costly.

endear British

/ ɪnˈdɪə /

verb

(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

Other Word Forms

unendeared adjective

Etymology

Origin of endear

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

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.

Because there is such scant biographical information available, this is especially valuable and endearing.

From The Wall Street Journal

"He probably wants to endear himself to his father," Minde tells the BBC, but adds that some of the posts are deliberate "provocations".

From BBC

It’s an endearing public image signifying how much fun he is having in his senior season.

From Los Angeles Times

He eventually became fluent in Hindi, a rare achievement in Delhi's foreign press corps and one which endeared him to many Indians for whom he was always "Tully sahib".

From BBC

Burnham has not endeared himself to all Labour MPs though.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023