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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Dear Meaning: Polite Greeting, Loved One, or Expensive? (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：polite salutation or exclamation (dear)

dear 🔊

/dɪər/

adj.

A polite and friendly way to start a letter or email. Also used in speaking to show surprise, worry, or sympathy.

Dear letter salutation handwritten on paper with fountain pen

polite salutation or exclamation 🔊

➕

/pəˈlaɪt ˌsæljuˈteɪʃən ɔːr ɪkˈskleɪmeɪʃən/

adj.

Used at the start of letters/emails as a polite greeting, or spoken to express mild surprise, worry, or sympathy.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'deore', meaning precious, beloved; later extended to costly.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Dear' like a dear friend—someone you value so much, you'd pay anything for them.

📖 Example

Dear Mr. Smith, thank you for your email regarding the meeting next week. 🔊 Dear Mr. Smith, thank you for your email regarding the meeting next week.

🔗 Collocations

Dear Sir/Madam – Formal letter opening for unknown recipient

Oh dear! – Exclamation of worry or sympathy

Dear me – Expression of mild surprise or dismay

🔄 Synonyms

beloved (adj.) – Dearly loved; used in similar affectionate address (e.g., 'my beloved friend')

respected (adj.) – Formal term of address showing esteem, like 'Dear' in letters

🚫 Antonyms

despised (adj.) – Hated or loathed, opposite of the affectionate sense

disrespected (adj.) – Not treated with respect, opposite of polite address

🌱 Derivatives

dearest (adj.) – Most dear; used as superlative term of endearment

dearly (adv.) – In a loving or costly manner

📖 Cultural Story

In Old English, 'deore' meant both 'beloved' and 'expensive', reflecting the ancient link between emotional value and monetary cost. This dual sense persists today.

Meaning 2：loved or cherished (dear)

dear 🔊

/dɪər/

adj.

Used to describe someone or something that is very important to you, loved, or valued highly.

Dear loved ones hands clasped together on blanket

loved or cherished 🔊

➕

/lʌvd ɔːr ˈtʃerɪʃt/

adj.

Describes someone or something that is deeply valued, important, or emotionally precious.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

My grandmother is very dear to me; I visit her every weekend. 🔊 My grandmother is very dear to me; I visit her every weekend.

🔗 Collocations

hold dear – To value greatly

dear friend – A close, beloved friend

dear to one's heart – Very important emotionally

🔄 Synonyms

beloved (adj.) – Deeply loved, often used for family or close relationships

precious (adj.) – Of great value; cherished

adored (adj.) – Loved intensely

🚫 Antonyms

hated (adj.) – Intensely disliked, opposite of loved

ignored (adj.) – Not given attention, opposite of cherished

🌱 Derivatives

dearest (adj.) – Most loved; used as a term of endearment

endear (v.) – To cause someone to be loved or liked

Meaning 3：expensive (dear)

dear 🔊

/dɪər/

adj.

Means something is expensive, costs a lot of money. This use is more common in British English.

expensive 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspensɪv/

adj.

Costing a lot of money, especially in British English, often applied to goods or services that are pricier than usual.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Fresh strawberries are quite dear in the winter, so I usually wait until summer to buy them. 🔊 Fresh strawberries are quite dear in the winter, so I usually wait until summer to buy them.

🔗 Collocations

a dear price – A very high price

dear to buy – Expensive to purchase

dear goods – Costly items

🔄 Synonyms

costly (adj.) – Involving great expense, often implying wastefulness

pricey (adj.) – Informal term for expensive

overpriced (adj.) – Charging more than fair value

🚫 Antonyms

cheap (adj.) – Low in price, opposite of expensive

inexpensive (adj.) – Not costing much money

🌱 Derivatives

dearly (adv.) – At great cost (e.g., 'paid dearly for the mistake')