1
: highly valued : precious
a dear friend
Our friendship is very dear to me.
ran for dear life
—often used in a salutationdear Sir
2
: affectionate, fond
3
: high or exorbitant in price : expensive
eggs are very dear just now
4
: heartfelt
our dearest prayers
5
obsolete
: noble
dearness
noun
1
: dearly sense 3
the effort cost them dear
2
: dearly sense 1
so dear I loved the man—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare1
: a loved one : sweetheart
How was your day, dear?
2
: a lovable person
Be a dear and get me a drink.
—used especially to express annoyance or dismay
Oh dear!
Synonyms
Examples of dear in a Sentence
Adjective (1)
caviar has always been among the dearest of foods
spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog
a dear friend that I would do anything for
Noun
Be a dear and take this for me.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Advertisement The ad did little good for his daughter in a deep-red state that once held the Cheney family dear but is now thoroughly in Trump’s corner.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
Billie’s character opens up a whole new world of relatability for new viewers and representation that was so dear to me as a young Latina when watching Alex and the rest of the Russos in Wizards of Waverly Place.
—Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dear 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Advertisement The ad did little good for his daughter in a deep-red state that once held the Cheney family dear but is now thoroughly in Trump’s corner.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
Adjective
What is your recommendation for declining an invitation from the sibling of a very dear (and very sensitive) friend?
—Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
Billie’s character opens up a whole new world of relatability for new viewers and representation that was so dear to me as a young Latina when watching Alex and the rest of the Russos in Wizards of Waverly Place.
—Stephanie Andrade, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dear
Articles Related to dear
Dictionary Entries Near dear
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dear. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share