dear

Adjective

• having a high price
  • costly jewelry
    
  • high-priced merchandise
    
  • much too dear for my pocketbook
    
  • a pricey restaurant
    

• earnest
  • one's dearest wish
    
  • devout wishes for their success
    
  • heartfelt condolences
    

• with or in a close or intimate relationship
  • a good friend
    
  • my sisters and brothers are near and dear
    

• dearly loved

Adverb

• at a great cost
  • he paid dearly for the food
    
  • this cost him dear
    

• with affection
  • she loved him dearly
    
  • he treats her affectionately
    

Noun

• a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)

• a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  costly , dear(p) , high-priced , pricey , pricy , devout , earnest , heartfelt , good , near , beloved , darling , dearly , affectionately , lamb , dearest , honey , love