loved

[ luhvd ]

/ lʌvd /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR loved ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

held in deep affection; cherished: loved companions; much-loved friends.

RELATED WORDS

beloved, adored, cherished, precious

Nearby words

Origin of loved

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300

Related formsun·loved, adjectivewell-loved, adjective

love

[ luhv ]

/ lʌv /

noun

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

sexual passion or desire.

a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

(used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?

a love affair; an intensely amorous incident; amour.

sexual intercourse; copulation.

(initial capital letter) a personification of sexual affection, as Eros or Cupid.

affectionate concern for the well-being of others: the love of one's neighbor.

strong predilection, enthusiasm, or liking for anything: her love of books.

the object or thing so liked: The theater was her great love.

the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.

Chiefly Tennis. a score of zero; nothing.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.

verb (used with object), loved, lov·ing.

to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.

to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).

to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.

to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.

to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.

to have sexual intercourse with.

verb (used without object), loved, lov·ing.

to have love or affection for another person; be in love.

Verb Phrases

love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.

Origin of love

before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English lufu, cognate with Old Frisian luve, Old High German luba, Gothic lubō; (v.) Middle English lov(i)en, Old English lufian; cognate with Old Frisian luvia, Old High German lubōn to love, Latin lubēre (later libēre) to be pleasing; akin to lief

SYNONYMS FOR love

1. tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. Love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person. Love may apply to various kinds of regard: the charity of the Creator, reverent adoration toward God or toward a person, the relation of parent and child, the regard of friends for each other, romantic feelings for another person, etc. Affection is a fondness for others that is enduring and tender, but calm. Devotion is an intense love and steadfast, enduring loyalty to a person; it may also imply consecration to a cause. 2. liking, inclination, regard, friendliness. 15. like. 16. adore, adulate, worship.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR love ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR love

1, 2. hatred, dislike. 15, 16. detest, hate.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR love ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsout·love, verb (used with object), out·loved, out·lov·ing.o·ver·love, verb, o·ver·loved, o·ver·lov·ing.

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

Examples from the Web for loved

The editors, writers, and cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo were human beings with families, friends, and loved ones.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He knew I loved him like a big brother, and I knew the feeling was mutual.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Dozens of tearful family members huddled at the Surabaya and Singapore airports, anxiously awaiting news of loved ones.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, we go to the urinals and he leans over to me and whispers, “I loved Gattaca.”
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange|Marlow Stern|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Augustus, also known as Augustus the Strong, was a party-boy, and loved any excuse to celebrate.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No one had ever linked the death of Denzil's loved one with that of Almeric Tarboe.
Carnac's Folly, Complete|Gilbert Parker
It helped her to bow to the commands of this man when he bade her marry him, and she loved him!
The House of the Misty Star|Fannie Caldwell Macaulay
Elizabeth had loved Edward, would she not go with Mary to hear a mass for the repose of his soul?
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth|Eva March Tappan
"'Tain't to be wondered at the girl is loved," continued Willie.
Flood Tide|Sara Ware Bassett
He raised her face and kissed her tenderly, and she felt that she loved him better for his well-assumed indifference.
Evelyn Innes|George Moore

British Dictionary definitions for loved

love

/ (lʌv) /

verb

(tr) to have a great attachment to and affection for

(tr) to have passionate desire, longing, and feelings for

(tr) to like or desire (to do something) very much

(tr) to make love to

(intr) to be in love

noun

an intense emotion of affection, warmth, fondness, and regard towards a person or thing
(as modifier)love song; love story

a deep feeling of sexual attraction and desire

wholehearted liking for or pleasure in something

Christianity

God's benevolent attitude towards man
man's attitude of reverent devotion towards God

Also: my love a beloved person: used esp as an endearment

British informal a term of address, esp but not necessarily for a person regarded as likable

(in tennis, squash, etc) a score of zero

fall in love to become in love

for love without payment

for love or money (used with a negative) in any circumstancesI wouldn't eat a snail for love or money

for the love of for the sake of

in love in a state of strong emotional attachment and usually sexual attraction

make love

to have sexual intercourse (with)
archaic to engage in courtship (with)

Related formsRelated adjective: amatory

Word Origin for love

Old English lufu; related to Old High German luba; compare also Latin libēre (originally lubēre) to please

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 loved

love

In addition to the idioms beginning with love

love affair
love at first sight

also see:

all's fair in love and war
course of true love
fall in love
for the love of
labor of love
make love
misery loves company
no love lost
not for love or money
puppy love
somebody up there loves me

loved

adjective

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of loved

love

noun

verb (used with object), loved, lov·ing.

verb (used without object), loved, lov·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of love

Examples from the Web for loved

love

verb

noun

Word Origin for love

love