loved
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
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:
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anthropic edged to the front of the AI race earlier this year with cutting-edge models and a coding tool that corporate America loved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Jaguar has no desire to be loved by everybody," he quipped.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Dennis Haskins, best known for playing Principal Belding on ‘Saved by the Bell,’ loved Dimples karaoke bar in Burbank.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Year: 2023 Compiled by: Slate Staff Of note: Like many of our peers in media world, we really loved this show.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026
She sat in her chair at the window and loved us.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
