[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/dear/)

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# dear

adjective (dear, dearer, dearest); noun (dear, dears); interjection (oh dear)

«dear» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Dear means loved or very much liked: «my dear friend». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#m1)
2. Dear is the polite word at the start of a letter: «Dear Grandma». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#m2)
3. In shops (mostly UK), dear means costing a lot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#m3)
4. «Dear» is a kind word for a person you love: «Thank you, dear». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#m4)
5. «Oh dear!» shows you are sorry or worried. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#m5)

### In the lessons

at the start of a letter (story only); or «dearer» meaning more expensive; in writing lessons: letters start with «Dear …,»; in everyday life: «oh dear» when something goes wrong; it tells the reader about love, politeness or a high price

### Examples

- Dear Grandma, I have 5 new books. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x1)
- The red bag is dearer than the blue one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x2)
- Apples are $2 dearer this week. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x3)
- Which toy is the dearest? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x4)
- Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to ask about the club. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x5)
- She is a dear friend of my mother's. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x6)
- Oh dear, I've spilt my juice! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x7)
- Thank you, dear, that is very kind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x8)
- "That is for Hereafterthis, my dear." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/#x9)

### Note

As «costly» it compares prices: «$2 dearer» means add 2. In a letter it carries no clue. Homophone: deer (the animal) sounds the same. «Dear» meaning expensive is more British; Americans say «expensive».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «dear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/dear/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«dear» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/dear.html) on Mova free.