If someone or something is dear to you, it means you hold them or it very close to your heart, as in "My country is very dear to me" or "She is a dear friend."
Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
Noun
a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
Noun
a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)
Adjective S.
with or in a close or intimate relationship; "a good friend"; "my sisters and brothers are near and dear"
Adjective S.
dearly loved
Adjective S.
earnest; "one''s dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"
Adverb
at a great cost; "he paid dearly for the food"; "this cost him dear"
Adverb
with affection; "she loved him dearly"; "he treats her affectionately"
superl.
Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
superl.
Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price;
as, a dear year.
superl.
Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious.
superl.
Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind;
engaging the attention.
superl.
Of agreeable things and interests.
superl.
Of disagreeable things and antipathies.
n.
A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
adv.
Dearly; at a high price.
v. t.
To endear.
Dear
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.2.
Neither count I my life dear unto myself.
And the last joy was dearer than the rest.
Dear as remember'd kisses after death.4.
[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.
His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of Whitehall.
In our dear peril.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day.
Dear
That kiss I carried from thee, dear.
Dear
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear.
Dear
Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
Dearly; at a high price.
To endear.
Usage Examples
Children, dear and loving children, can alone console a woman for the loss of her beauty.
Dear God! how beauty varies in nature and art. In a woman the flesh must be like marble in a statue the marble must be like flesh.
Dear motorist on the information superhighway. I'm sorry I do not have a car.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Freedom is never dear at any price. It is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living?
Misspelled FormDear, Dear, ear, Dear, Dwear, D3ear, D4ear, Drear, Dsear, Ddear, Dwar, D3ar, D4ar, Drar, Dsar, Ddar, Dewar, De3ar, De4ar, Derar, Desar, Dedar, Deqar, Dewar, Desar, Dezar, Deqr, Dewr, Desr, Dezr, Deaqr, Deawr, Deasr, Deazr, Deaer, Dea4r, Dea5r, Deatr, Deafr, Deae, Dea4, Dea5, Deat, Deaf, Deare, Dear4, Dear5, Deart, Dearf.
Other Usage ExamplesFor 50 years, nuclear power stations have produced three products which only a lunatic could want: bomb-explosive plutonium, lethal radioactive waste and electricity so dear it has to be heavily subsidised. They leave to future generations the task, and most of the cost, of making safe sites that have been polluted half-way to eternity.
All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one Workman and however we deceive ourselves, as dear unto God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince.
Dear God, Please send to me the spirit of Your peace. Then send, dear Lord, the spirit of peace from me to all the world. Amen.
Dear Lord we beg but one boon more: Peace in the hearts of all men living, peace in the whole world this Thanksgiving.
As I pass it, I feel as if I saw a dear old mother, sweet in her weakness, trembling at the approach of her dissolution, but not appealing to me against the inevitable, rather endeavouring to reassure me by her patience, and pointing to a hopeful future.
But, my dear sirs, when peace does come, you may call on me for any thing. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from every quarter.