loved

American

[luhvd] / lʌvd /

adjective

held in deep affection; cherished.

loved companions; much-loved friends.

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

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.

The original golden touch belonged to King Midas, who loved it until he accidentally killed his daughter by turning her into a gold statue.

From Los Angeles Times

Darren, from Glasgow, said she loved dancing, cooking, playing and going to school.

From BBC

"I appreciate your understanding and support and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time."

From BBC

Rather than being adaptations, they’re more like fan-service brand extensions that simply recreate the characters and action that fans have loved for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal

“They just loved us and wanted us to be the best that we could possibly be. Obviously it worked.”

From Salon

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