Showing results for "loved"

• past tense form of love.
• past participle of love.

loved

American  

[luhvd] / lʌvd /

adjective

1. held in deep affection; cherished.

   loved companions; much-loved friends.

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Other Word Forms

• unloved
  adjective
• well-loved
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of loved

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; love ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Compare meaning

How does loved compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• beloved vs. loved

Explanation

Your loved ones are the most important people in your life, usually your family members and closest friends. The adjective loved can describe anything you especially cherish. If you have objects, places, pets, or people in your life that you adore, you know what it means when something is loved. A toddler might insist on bringing her loved teddy bear everywhere. You'll often find this adjective modified by words like "well" or "much," and synonyms include "cherished" and "beloved."

Example Sentences

On Tuesday, she shared photos of her friends and family, and a video of a loved one accompanying her as she walks through the hospital.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026

For the entirety of “Avatar,” Aang’s loved ones and allies try to persuade him that the only way to stop the Fire Nation is to kill its despotic ruler, Lord Ozai.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2026

A few people there maintained a vigil, hoping to recover their loved ones' bodies.

From Barron's • Jul. 8, 2026

“Princess Margaret was very ‘royal’ and loved the pomp and ceremony of living at Kensington Palace rather than the understated charm of the Old House.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 8, 2026

That meant he dearly loved rolling in manure and decay, so Tarbox territory was the happy hunting ground for him.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• adored
• beloved
• cherished