darling

noun

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dar·ling | \ ˈdär-liŋ

Definition of darling

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : a dearly loved person

2 : favorite a director who is the darling of the critics

darling

adjective

Definition of darling (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : dearly loved : favorite

2 : very pleasing : charming

Darling

geographical name

Dar·ling | \ ˈdär-liŋ

Definition of Darling (Entry 3 of 3)

river 1702 miles (2738 kilometers) long in southeastern Australia in Queensland and New South Wales flowing southwest into the Murray River

Other Words from darling Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about darling

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Synonyms & Antonyms for darling

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

unbeloved

Did You Know?

Noun

The origins of "darling" can be found in the very heart of the English language; its earliest known uses can be traced back to Old English writings from the 9th century. Old English "deorling" was formed by attaching the Old English suffix -ling ("one associated with or marked by a specified quality") with the adjective "dēore," the ancestor of our adjective "dear" ("regarded very affectionately or fondly," "highly valued or esteemed," "beloved"). English speakers appear to have developed a fondness for "darling" and have held on to it for over a thousand years now. And though its spelling has changed over time - including variations such as "dyrling," "derlinge," and "dearling" - "darling" has maintained its original sense of "one dearly loved."

Examples of darling in a Sentence

Noun She was mother's little darling. for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong Adjective This is my darling daughter, Sara. That dress is just darling.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But according to the book Saturday Night, the New Orleans show meant Michaels no longer was a darling among NBC executives. — David Lee Simmons, NOLA.com, "Comedy of Errors: Live from New Orleans, a Mardi Gras SNL episode gone wrong," 8 Feb. 2021 The York native has emerged as the current liberal darling, thanks in part to his aggressive tweets against the status quo within his party and also his sharp criticisms of all things Republican. — Salena Zito, Washington Examiner, "John Fetterman leaps into Pennsylvania's Senate race," 8 Feb. 2021 Bottom Line: Zendaya has had success in music, is generating more and more heat in film and prestige TV, and is a fashion-industry darling. — Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, "Disney and Nickelodeon Stars Gone Pop: A Ranking," 25 Jan. 2021 Today, Crosby Studios, in collaboration with HBX, launched a new home-goods line that carries the same vibrant, minimalist (and sometimes twisted) sensibility that made Nuriev a design-industry darling, but at more affordable prices. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "5 Things to Buy From Crosby Studios’ New Home-Goods Line," 13 Jan. 2021 Byrne was viewed as a pro-business Republican, while Young was tagged as the tea party darling. — al, "What awaits Bradley Byrne after Congress? He’s mulling ideas," 21 Dec. 2020 Started in 2010 by Ruth Zukerman, one of the founders of SoulCycle, Flywheel emerged as a darling of the Manhattan boutique fitness scene. — Katherine Doherty, Bloomberg.com, "Flywheel Sports Will Close, Adding to Fitness Chain Wreckage," 15 Sep. 2020 This Sundance darling bypassed theaters and landed directly on Amazon Prime in the middle of the pandemic. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, "The 100 Best Movies on Amazon Prime Right Now," 16 Jan. 2021 Paxton, under indictment for securities fraud and now facing a federal probe into allegations from former staffers of public corruption, could benefit from being a darling of Trump loyalists. — Alex Briseno, Dallas News, "Texas Republicans back dubious moves to overturn election to score points with Trump’s loyal base," 14 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Prince William and Kate Middleton posted the shot, which of course includes a darling Princess Charlotte too, to Instagram. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Prince George and Prince Louis Look Like Twins in Their Family’s Christmas Card Photo," 17 Dec. 2020 The darling decor, showcased as a series of snapshots posted to her Instagram Story yesterday, gives off the same boho-chic vibes as the rest of her Manhattan apartment. — Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Gigi Hadid's Nursery Is a Bohemian-Decor Dream," 8 Dec. 2020 Gouda is a darling little girl originating from Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, where she was turned in as a stray. — The Arizona Republic, "Gouda and more pets up for adoption in Phoenix-area shelters this week," 14 Aug. 2020 Across the way is the most darling wood-burning stove—plus solar, water, battery, and load meters. — Taysha Murtaugh, Country Living, "Just Wait Until You See the Inside of This Horse Truck-Turned-Tiny Home," 4 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'darling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.