endear
Americanverb (used with object)
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endears,
present (3rd person singular)
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endeared,
past participle, past
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endearing
present participle
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to make dear, esteemed, or beloved.
He endeared himself to his friends with his gentle ways.
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Obsolete. to make costly.
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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endearsimple
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endearssimple
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have endearedperfect
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has endearedperfect
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am endearingprogressive
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are endearingprogressive
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is endearingprogressive
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have been endearingperfect progressive
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has been endearingperfect progressive
Past
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endearedsimple
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had endearedperfect
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was endearingprogressive
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were endearingprogressive
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had been endearingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of endear
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.
Vocabulary lists containing endear
Grade 10, List 5
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Born a Crime
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It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime
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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:
Debra Matlock, who runs the Los Feliz Improvement Assn., said Raman’s office responds quickly to problems in the community but lacks the kind of warm bedside manner that politicians use to endear themselves with constituents.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
"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 ● Jan. 30, 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
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
"There's something about blue that's calming, it endears trust without being too in your face. It's fashion diplomacy," says Kwei.
From BBC ● Dec. 26, 2025
He’s staying clean and projecting a quirky charm that endears him to others — initially, at least.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025
The hothead look isn’t necessarily a good one - though Sirianni endears himself to Eagles fans when he barks at visiting fans.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 26, 2023
What endears you to me is your response to those people.
From Salon ● Nov. 6, 2023
No more the morning glow, no more the grace, Enshrines, endears.
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 14 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Little of Zhu’s effort endeared him to China’s traditional power structure, but he was the reform camp’s standard-bearer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Obama endeared himself to voters, especially younger ones, by coming off as the cool college professor who manages to sound erudite without being condescending.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
That lighthearted attitude is what endeared Wallace to Randolph before the teen even joined the team.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Years later, she endeared herself to the public when she appeared in 2010 on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing" show where celebrities with no dance experience are paired with a professional partner.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
The gentle manners and beauty of the cottagers greatly endeared them to me; when they were unhappy, I felt depressed; when they rejoiced, I sympathised in their joys.
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
Full of endearing quirks, the cats in Ms. Fullerton’s book serve as crucial wells of inspiration, encouraging authors to exercise their talents in unexpected ways.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Matarazzo shot to fame in 2016 as endearing super-geek Dustin Henderson - a role he calls "the greatest honour of his life".
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Viewers found this endearing, speculating that the robot was “bashful” or suffering from social anxiety.
From Slate ● Sep. 27, 2026
One of the most endearing moments in our afternoon happens when his teenage son, Callum, calls looking for something around the house.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Maybe it was, but like his music, I found his paintings evocative, endearing, and curious.
From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
