dear
gb/dˈɪɹ/ us/dˈɪɹ/
A2
Inglés
~ 2800
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adjective
A2
property
1
loved or treasured
Loved or liked very much.
Patrón de uso:
[someone/something] is dear to [someone]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes confuse 'dear' meaning 'loved' with 'dear' meaning 'expensive'. Context is important.
Sinónimos
beloved (More formal and poetic than 'dear', often used in romantic or ceremonial contexts.)
Antónimos
unloved (Describes someone or something not cared for or valued.)
Colocaciones
dear friend
|dear family
|someone dear
|hold dear
|dear to my heart
Temas
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Patrón de uso:
[something] is dear
Error frecuente:
Learners may not realize this meaning is less common in American English, where 'expensive' is preferred.
Sinónimos
expensive (The most common synonym; interchangeable in most contexts.)
Antónimos
cheap (Low in price, the opposite of 'dear' in this sense.)
Colocaciones
too dear
|very dear
|a bit dear
|rather dear
Temas
money
|shopping
|finance
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- This dress is too dear.
- The food here is dear.
- That phone is very dear.
- The hotel was a bit dear for us.
Sustantivo
A2
entity
3
beloved person (address)
Someone you love or like, used when speaking to them.
Patrón de uso:
[Dear], [rest of sentence]
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes overuse 'dear' in formal writing where it may sound old-fashioned or overly intimate.
Sinónimos
darling (More intimate or romantic than 'dear'.)
Colocaciones
my dear
|oh dear
Temas
relationships
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Thank you, my dear, for your help.
- Don't worry, dear, everything will be fine.
- Come here, dear, and sit down.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- 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.
Patrón de uso:
'Oh dear' + [clause]
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
oh no ('Oh no' is more informal and often stronger in emotional tone.)
Colocaciones
oh dear
Temas
emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Oh dear, I forgot my keys at home!
- Oh dear, that's not good news.
- Oh dear, did you hurt yourself?
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- Oh dear, I am late.
- Oh dear, I lost my bag.
- Oh dear, that is bad.
- Oh dear, she is sick.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
dear
AFI
GB/dˈɪɹ/
US/dˈɪɹ/
Sílabas y acento
dear (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (dear)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: dear
- Comparative: dearer
- Superlative: dearest
Noun
- Base: dear
- Plural: dears
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- 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.
Ejemplos
- Oh dear, I think I left my keys at home.
- Oh dear—that’s not good.
- Oh dear, are you hurt?