dear
dear — adjective
1. considered very important to you and strongly cared about, such as a family memb
considered very important to you and strongly cared about, such as a family member or close friend
Salma visits her dear grandmother every Sunday afternoon.
collocation: dear + family member
The old photograph reminded Eitan of his dear late father.
This necklace was a gift from a dear friend who lives in Canada.
pattern: dear + friend
Benjamin's first drawing was kept by his mother because it was so dear to her.
pattern: be dear to someone
- dear friend
- dear mother/father/sister
- dear old
- be dear to
Grammar Patterns
be dear to someone
my dear + [family member/friend]
Usage Note
Common before nouns for family members and close friends. Often used with 'old' to show lasting affection, as in 'my dear old uncle.'
Common Mistakes
2. written before someone's name or title at the start of a letter or email as a st
written before someone's name or title at the start of a letter or email as a standard polite greeting
Dear Ms. Chen, thank you for your kind invitation to the conference.
pattern: Dear + Title + Surname
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the teaching position.
Dear Aunt Rosa, we hope you can visit us in Taipei this summer.
pattern: Dear + family relationship
Dear colleagues, please find the meeting notes attached below.
pattern: Dear + group of people
- Dear Sir
- Dear Madam
- Dear Mr./Ms./Dr.
- Dear all
- to
used only in very informal notes, not standard for business letters
Grammar Patterns
Dear + Title + Surname
Dear + First Name
Dear Sir or Madam
Usage Note
Capitalize 'Dear' and the following name. A comma or colon may follow the greeting depending on the style. In emails, 'Dear' is still widely used but sometimes replaced by 'Hi' or 'Hello' in informal settings.
Common Mistakes
3. having a price that seems too high compared to what you expect or can afford
having a price that seems too high compared to what you expect or can afford
The jacket in the shop window was far too dear for a student's budget.
pattern: far too dear
Fresh strawberries are dearer in winter than in summer.
comparative form: dearer
We found a lovely flat near the park, but the rent was too dear.
"Everything in this hotel is dreadfully dear," Christopher complained.
register: British English expressing complaint
- too dear
- far too dear
- dearer than
- dreadfully dear
- rather dear
- cheap
opposite in price; can imply low quality
- affordable
within one's budget, neutral in tone
Grammar Patterns
too dear for someone
dearer than
Usage Note
This sense is more common in British English than American English. In everyday speech, 'expensive' or 'pricey' is more frequent. 'Dear' often carries a tone of personal complaint or disappointment about the cost.
Common Mistakes
Something that is very important and meaningful to a person.
The local library is very close to Maya's heart.
Why is that old park so dear to your heart?
dear old/little…
idiomUsed to talk about someone in a loving or affectionate way.
Dear old Mr. Chen always brings us cookies.
Look at that dear little puppy sleeping on the rug.
With as much effort or speed as possible, often because of fear.
The cat clung to the branch for dear life.
When the bull charged, Diego ran for his life.
To hold something very tightly because you are scared or in danger.
On the roller coaster, Sara held on for dear life.
The sailor hung on for dear life as the wave crashed.
To care about someone or something very deeply and value them highly.
Min holds her grandmother's ring very dear.
We hold the principles of fairness and justice dear.
The people who are closest to you, such as family and close friends.
Aiden spent the holiday with his nearest and dearest.
She invited only her nearest and dearest to the wedding.
dear — adverb
1. in a way that shows strong positive feelings of love, care, or fondness toward s
in a way that shows strong positive feelings of love, care, or fondness toward someone or something
The children were dearly loved by both of their grandparents.
passive: be dearly loved
Lan dearly misses the small town in the mountains where she grew up.
pattern: dearly miss
Asher dearly loves the small park near his flat where birds gather.
pattern: dearly love
The old folk song was one that Amihan's grandmother had dearly loved.
- love dearly
- miss dearly
Grammar Patterns
love dearly
miss dearly
be dearly loved
Usage Note
Almost always paired with the verbs 'love' or 'miss.' It is not used with general action verbs: ❌ 'She dearly smiled at him.'
Common Mistakes
2. so that a person suffers serious negative consequences or loses something valuab
so that a person suffers serious negative consequences or loses something valuable as a result of an action
The company would pay dearly for ignoring the safety warnings.
idiom: pay dearly for
Elena's mistake on the contract cost her dearly in legal fees.
pattern: cost someone dearly
The team's decision to cut corners would later cost them dearly.
In his forties, Viktor learned that neglecting his health would cost him dearly as he grew older.
pattern: cost someone dearly
- pay dearly for
- cost dearly
- heavily
used in 'pay heavily' to mean suffer consequences, but less idiomatic
Grammar Patterns
pay dearly for something
cost someone dearly
Usage Note
Commonly found in the fixed expressions 'pay dearly for something' and 'cost someone dearly.' Unlike sense 1, this sense always involves a negative outcome — a price, penalty, or loss.
Common Mistakes
dear — exclamation
1. said when something mildly bad or unexpected happens and you feel upset, worried
said when something mildly bad or unexpected happens and you feel upset, worried, or annoyed about it
"Oh dear, I've left my wallet on the bus!" cried Femi.
followed by clause explaining reason
Oh dear, the baby has woken up at three in the morning.
Oh dear, I think the soup is burning on the stove!
used in minor household emergency
Dear me, is that the time already? I need to go!
variant: Dear me
- Oh dear
- Dear me
- Oh dear me
Grammar Patterns
Oh dear, + [statement]
Dear me, + [statement]
Usage Note
The phrase 'Oh dear' is milder than a swear word and is used in situations that are inconvenient or upsetting but not catastrophic. 'Dear me' is an older variant still heard in British English.
Common Mistakes
dear — noun
1. a person who is gentle, helpful, and easy to like, especially when they do somet
a person who is gentle, helpful, and easy to like, especially when they do something kind for you
Thanks for giving me a ride to the station — you are a real dear.
pattern: a real dear
Mr. García is such a dear; he feeds our cat when we travel.
pattern: such a dear
Be a dear and pass me the salt, would you?
Amihan is a dear to help me move all these boxes.
pattern: a dear to + verb
- a real dear
- such a dear
- be a dear
- sweetheart
more affectionate, may imply romantic interest
- darling
more intimate, often used with loved ones
Grammar Patterns
a real dear
such a dear
be a dear and + [verb]
Usage Note
Often used after someone has done a small favour. Can also be used playfully or sarcastically. Common in British English in the phrase 'Be a dear and…' to make a polite request.
Common Mistakes
2. a word you say when talking directly to someone you feel close to, such as a chi
a word you say when talking directly to someone you feel close to, such as a child, romantic partner, or family member
"Don't cry, my dear, everything will be all right," the nurse said softly.
address: my dear used for comfort
Come along, dear, it is time for your bath.
"Would you like more tea, my dear?" asked the elderly hostess.
address: my dear for polite hospitality
Good night, my dear, sleep well," the father whispered to his daughter.
address: my dear at bedtime
- my dear
- yes dear
- there there dear
Grammar Patterns
[statement], dear
my dear
yes, dear
Usage Note
Not typically used between adult men addressing each other. May sound old-fashioned to younger speakers in some regions. In British English, older women in particular use 'dear' or 'my dear' as a general friendly term.
Common Mistakes
3. someone who is very important to you, especially a romantic partner or a close r
someone who is very important to you, especially a romantic partner or a close relative whom you care about deeply
After five years apart, Élise was finally reunited with her dear.
possessive: her dear
The letters were written by Shanti's dear, who died long ago.
Lucas sent flowers to his dear on their anniversary every year.
possessive: his dear
The old woman spoke warmly of her dear, who had been a sailor.
- my dear
- her dear
- his dear
- sweetheart
more common in modern spoken English
- beloved
more formal or literary
- lover
more specific to a romantic or sexual relationship
Grammar Patterns
my dear
her dear
the dears
Usage Note
Less common in everyday conversation than 'boyfriend,' 'girlfriend,' or 'partner.' More often found in poetry, nostalgic writing, or older speech. 'My dear' can also function as a possessive noun meaning 'my loved one.'
Common Mistakes
Word family
- dearlyadverbB2
- dearestadjectiveA2
- dearnessnounC2
- endearverbC1
- endearingadjectiveC1
- endearmentnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Dear, beloved, cherished, and precious all describe someone or something you value deeply. 'Dear' is the most versatile and commonly used in everyday speech ('Salma visits her dear grandmother'). 'Beloved' is notably stronger and more formal, often appearing in literature, speeches, or obituaries ('our beloved teacher'). 'Cherished' focuses on the care and protection you give to what you value, often used with memories or possessions ('a cherished photograph'). 'Precious' suggests something is both rare and irreplaceable, like a precious gem, and is used for time or moments ('precious time with family'). Use 'dear' for ordinary affection, 'beloved' for deep reverence, 'cherished' for carefully kept valuables or memories, and 'precious' for anything you consider irreplaceable.
Common collocations
Etymology
Dear comes from Old English 'dēore,' which originally meant 'precious, valuable, or costly.' The sense of high price ('expensive') is the oldest recorded meaning. The emotional meaning of 'beloved' developed naturally from the idea that something highly valued is also dearly loved. By the 15th century, English letter-writers had adopted 'dear' as a standard polite greeting, giving us the letter-opening sense we still use today.