dear

/dɪr/

adjectiveinterjectiondear

Think: “DEAR = DEAR friend is near” (both rhyme with “ear”).

Yes, it's dear. Remember the vowel team **ea** makes the /ɪr/ sound here: **d-ea-r**.

Definitions

  1. adjectiveloved or liked a lot; cherished
  2. adjectiveused in letters or speech to begin addressing someone (e.g., “Dear Mom”)
  3. adjectivecosting a lot of money; expensive
  4. interjectionused to show surprise, sympathy, or emphasis (e.g., “Oh dear!”)

Examples

  • Dear Grandma, thank you for the birthday card.
  • That old camera is dear, but it takes beautiful pictures.
  • Oh dear, I forgot my lunch on the counter.

Synonyms

belovedcherishedlovedpreciousexpensive

Antonyms

hatedcheap

Translations

ES querido/a; caro/aPT querido/a; caro/aFR cher/chère; coûteux/couteuse

Common misspellings

deerderedearhdeirdairdearedear dea r

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