dear
gb/dˈɪɹ/ us/dˈɪɹ/
A2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
loved or treasured
Loved or liked very much.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is dear to [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dear' meaning 'loved' with 'dear' meaning 'expensive'. Context is important.
Synonyms
beloved (More formal and poetic than 'dear', often used in romantic or ceremonial contexts.)
Antonyms
unloved (Describes someone or something not cared for or valued.)
Collocations
dear friend
|dear family
|someone dear
|hold dear
|dear to my heart
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is a dear friend who has always been there for me.
- This old photo is very dear to me.
- He lost someone very dear to him last year.
- The memories of our trip are dear to my heart.
Learner examples
- My dog is very dear to me.
- She is a dear friend.
- This book is dear to my father.
- My grandmother is dear to our family.
adjective
B1
property
2
costing a lot
Costing a lot of money.
Usage pattern:
[something] is dear
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this meaning is less common in American English, where 'expensive' is preferred.
Synonyms
expensive (The most common synonym; interchangeable in most contexts.)
Antonyms
cheap (Low in price, the opposite of 'dear' in this sense.)
Collocations
too dear
|very dear
|a bit dear
|rather dear
Themes
money
|shopping
|finance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The rent in this part of the city is quite dear.
- That shop is a bit dear, but the quality is excellent.
- Tickets for the concert are too dear for me.
Learner examples
- This dress is too dear.
- The food here is dear.
- That phone is very dear.
- The hotel was a bit dear for us.
Noun
A2
entity
3
beloved person (address)
Someone you love or like, used when speaking to them.
Usage pattern:
[Dear], [rest of sentence]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes overuse 'dear' in formal writing where it may sound old-fashioned or overly intimate.
Synonyms
darling (More intimate or romantic than 'dear'.)
Collocations
my dear
|oh dear
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Thank you, my dear, for your help.
- Don't worry, dear, everything will be fine.
- Come here, dear, and sit down.
Learner examples
- I love you, dear.
- Come here, dear.
- Good night, dear.
- Thank you, my dear.
interjection
A2
action
4
expression of surprise or concern
'Oh dear' means you are surprised, worried, or sorry about something.
Usage pattern:
'Oh dear' + [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'oh dear' sounds formal; in fact it can be used in everyday speech but may seem slightly old-fashioned in some dialects.
Synonyms
oh no ('Oh no' is more informal and often stronger in emotional tone.)
Collocations
oh dear
Themes
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Oh dear, I forgot my keys at home!
- Oh dear, that's not good news.
- Oh dear, did you hurt yourself?
Learner examples
- Oh dear, I am late.
- Oh dear, I lost my bag.
- Oh dear, that is bad.
- Oh dear, she is sick.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dear
IPA
GB/dˈɪɹ/
US/dˈɪɹ/
Syllables & stress
dear (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dear)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dear
- Comparative: dearer
- Superlative: dearest
Noun
- Base: dear
- Plural: dears
Word family
Expressions
Dear Sir or Madam
1/dˈɪɹ sˈɚ ˈɔɹ mˈædəm/
fixed phrase
formal
formal letter opening when recipient unknown
Used at the start of a formal letter when you do not know who will read it.
Examples
- Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the position advertised.
- Please find attached my CV. Dear Sir or Madam, I look forward to hearing from you.
hold dear
1/hˈoʊld dˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
value greatly or cherish emotionally
To care about something or someone very much.
Examples
- I hold my family dearly and always put them first.
- He holds his freedom dearly.
oh dear
1/ˈoʊ dˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
mild distress or surprise exclamation
'Oh dear' is something you say when you are worried, surprised, or sorry about something small or unexpected.
Examples
- Oh dear, I forgot to bring my wallet!
- Oh dear, the cake has burned.
oh dear
1/ˈoʊ dˈɪɹ/
fixed phrase
concern or mild dismay
We say “oh dear” when something has gone wrong.
Examples
- Oh dear, I think I left my keys at home.
- Oh dear—that’s not good.
- Oh dear, are you hurt?