dearest
gb/dˈɪɹɪst/ us/dˈɪɹɪst/
A2
English
~ 3300
drágám, legkedvesebb, leghőbb, legdrágább
NOUN
A2
INFORMAL
1
drágám
A2
Usage pattern:
to talk to [someone] you love
I miss you, my dearest.
Hiányzol, drágám.
Dearest, could you pass me the salt?
Drágám, ideadnád a sót?
She wrote a letter to her dearest before leaving.
Learner examples
Good night, my dearest.
Jó éjszakát, drágám.
Hello, dearest! How are you?
Szia, drágám! Hogy vagy?
I want to see my dearest soon.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dearest' with 'deer' (the animal) due to similar pronunciation.
Meaning
A person one loves most
Collocations
my dearest
|oh dearest
|dearest friend
Synonyms
darling (Very similar in use, but 'darling' can sound slightly more old-fashioned or romantic.)
Antonyms
enemy (An enemy is someone you dislike or oppose, the opposite of someone you love.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Someone you love very much.
A person regarded with the most affection or love, often used as a term of endearment.
B1
2
legkedvesebb
A2
leghőbb
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone's] dearest [friend/hope/wish]
He is my dearest friend from childhood.
Ő a legkedvesebb gyerekkori barátom.
Her dearest wish is to travel the world.
Leghőbb vágya, hogy beutazza a világot.
This book was her dearest possession.
Learner examples
She is my dearest friend.
Ő a legkedvesebb barátom.
His dearest dream is to be a pilot.
Leghőbb álma, hogy pilóta legyen.
This is my dearest memory.
Common mistake:
Some learners incorrectly use 'most dearest', which is redundant since 'dearest' is already a superlative form.
Meaning
Most loved or cherished
Collocations
dearest friend
|dearest wish
|dearest hope
Synonyms
most beloved (More formal and literary than 'dearest', but similar in meaning.)
Antonyms
least loved (Direct opposite in terms of affection level.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Loved more than anyone or anything else.
Most loved or valued above all others.
B1
3
legdrágább
A2
Usage pattern:
the dearest [item]
This is the dearest restaurant in town.
Ez a város legdrágább étterme.
She bought the dearest dress in the shop.
A bolt legdrágább ruháját vette meg.
The dearest option isn't always the best one.
Learner examples
This is the dearest hotel here.
Ez itt a legdrágább szálloda.
That is the dearest phone in the store.
Az a legdrágább telefon a boltban.
The red bag is the dearest one.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the affectionate sense and use it incorrectly when talking about people.
Meaning
Most expensive or costly
Collocations
the dearest hotel
|the dearest dress
|the dearest option
Synonyms
most expensive (Direct equivalent in meaning but more common in neutral contexts.)
Antonyms
cheapest (The opposite in terms of cost.)
Themes
shopping
|economics
|finance
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
More expensive than all others.
Costing more than anything else of its kind; most expensive.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dearest
IPA
GB/dˈɪɹɪst/
US/dˈɪɹɪst/
Syllables & stress
dearest (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dearest)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dearest
- Comparative: dearester
- Superlative: dearestest
Noun
- Base: dearest
- Plural: dearests
Word family
Expressions
dearest friend
1/dˈɪɹɪst fɹˈɛnd/
fixed phrase
Closest and most loved friend
A friend you care about more than any other.
Examples
- She has been my dearest friend since school.
- He came to visit his dearest friend in the hospital.
my dearest
1/mˈaɪ dˈɪɹɪst/
fixed phrase
informal
Affectionate address for loved one
A sweet way to call someone you love a lot.
Examples
- My dearest, I have missed you so much.
- Thank you, my dearest, for all your help.