What is dear? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of dear in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of dear

dearadjective

thân, thân yêu, thân mến, kính thưa

/dɪə/

Definition & pronunciation of <strong>dear</strong>

Where does the word dear come from?

The word "dear" has a rich history dating back to Old English. The earliest recorded usage of "dear" as a term of endearment dates back to around 725 AD. Initially, it meant "beloved" or "loved," likely stemming from the Old English words "dear" meaning "costly" or "precious," and "lufu" meaning "love." In Middle English (circa 1100-1500 AD), the word "dear" took on a more affectionate tone, often used to address friends, family, or loved ones. The spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved over time, and by the 16th century, "dear" had become a common expression of affection and fondness. Today, the word "dear" is used worldwide in informal and formal contexts to convey affection, sympathy, or sincerity. Its origins in Old English reflect the importance of love and relationships in human culture throughout history.

Vocabulary summary dear

typeadjective

meaningdear, dear, dear, dearly

exampleoh dear, my head aches!

examplehe is very dear to us

meaningDear, dear; dear (written in a letter)

examplewhat dears they are!

exampledear Sir

meaninglovely, lovable

examplewhat a dear child!

typenoun

meaningdear friend

exampleoh dear, my head aches!

examplehe is very dear to us

meaning(colloquial) lovely person, precious person; lovely thing, precious thing

examplewhat dears they are!

exampledear Sir

Example of vocabulary dearnamespace

meaning

used at the beginning of a letter before the name or title of the person that you are writing to

  • Dear Sir or Madam
  • Dear Mrs Jones
  • Dear Beth/Dad/Aunt Susan
  • My dear sister
meaning

loved by or important to somebody

  • He's one of my dearest friends.
  • They are grieving over their dear departed ones.
  • Her daughter is very dear to her.
  • They lost everything that was dear to them.
meaning

used in speech or writing to address somebody in a polite or friendly way

  • Martin, my dear fellow…
  • Take my advice, dear reader.
meaning

expensive; costing a lot of money

  • Everything's so dear now, isn't it?
  • There was a shortage of potatoes, and they became dear.

Synonyms and related words for dear

Idioms of vocabulary dear

close/dear/near to somebody’s heart
having a lot of importance and interest for somebody
    dear old/little…
    used to describe somebody in a way that shows love
    • Dear old Sue! I knew she'd help.
    • Their baby's a dear little thing.
    • It's always good to hear from dear old Harry!
    for dear life | for your life
    as hard or as fast as possible
    • She was holding on to the rope for dear life.
    • Run for your life!
    hang/hold on for dear life
    (informal)to hold somebody/something very tightly because you are afraid
      hold somebody/something dear
      (formal)to care very much for somebody/something; to value somebody/something highly
      • He had destroyed everything we held dear.
      your nearest and dearest
      (informal)your close family and friends

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