beloved

adjective

be·​loved bi-ˈləvd How to pronounce beloved (audio)
-ˈlə-vəd,
bē- How to pronounce beloved (audio)
: dearly loved : dear to the heart
our beloved grandmother
a beloved public figure
beloved noun

Examples of beloved in a Sentence

He is a beloved public figure. an actor beloved by millions of fans one of the city's most beloved buildings
Recent Examples on the Web Of course, something can be tremendously vital and important without being particularly beloved. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The Tiny Desk drop came just days after JT thrilled an L.A. audience with a surprise *NSYNC reunion that found the beloved boy band running through a few of their most beloved hits. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 She will be missed more than any of us can say, but our love for her and her love for her beloved Paul, her siblings Gerard, Alan and Muriel, and all her family and friends will live forever. Chris Willman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Johnson’s movie is flopping, but her public image is more beloved than ever. Peter C. Baker, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 This was a heartbreaking way to go for a beloved character whose romance with McSteamy was one for Grey’s history books. TIME, 14 Mar. 2024 On Wednesday, the brand announced the beloved freebie day will return on April 16 at scoop shops nationwide. Ben & Jerry’s fan appreciation day knows no limits. Antonia Debianchi, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 The clan’s relationship to their community is likewise barely defined, beyond some vague comments about how beloved Stan and Joy were as tennis coaches. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 The collection includes a redesign of the beloved GOGO easy chair from 1972, which is being rereleased as the ÖNNESTAD armchair in red and green. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beloved.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from past participle of beloven to love, from be- + loven to love

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beloved was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near beloved

Cite this Entry

“Beloved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beloved. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beloved

adjective
be·​loved bi-ˈləv(-ə)d How to pronounce beloved (audio)
: dearly loved
beloved noun

More from Merriam-Webster on beloved

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!