dear
/ˈdɪɹ/
adjectivenounadverb
Core
1.adj.dearly loved
2.adj.with or in a close or intimate relationship
“a good friend”
3.adj.sincerely earnest
“one's dearest wish”
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dear and dearest share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. dear means “dearly loved”. dearest means “a beloved person; used as terms of endearment”. dear is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdɪɹ/
1.adj.dearly loved
2.adj.with or in a close or intimate relationship
“a good friend”
3.adj.sincerely earnest
“one's dearest wish”
/ˈdɪɹəst/
1.n.a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
| dear | dearest | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪɹ/ | /ˈdɪɹəst/ |
| Said | dir | DIR-uhst |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 4 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | adjective, noun, adverb | noun |
| Senses | 8 | 1 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | beloved, darling | beloved, dear, honey |
Full entry for dear · Full entry for dearest · More comparisons