dearly

adverb

dear·​ly ˈdir-lē How to pronounce dearly (audio)
1
: with affection : fondly
2
: heartily, earnestly
prayed so dearly for peace
3
: at a high rate or price
paid dearly for the error

Examples of dearly in a Sentence

I would dearly love to see them again. He dearly wanted to believe that it was true.
Recent Examples on the Web Then, there are ladybugs: no less an insect, but somehow dearly beloved — and even celebrated — by many. Kate Morgan, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023 But single-payer health care saddles patients with interminable waits for subpar care—and charges them dearly for the privilege. Sally Pipes, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 That group has seized the initiative in the House by being willing to take on Speaker Kevin McCarthy and employ procedural tactics that would have cost them dearly in the past. Carl Hulse, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2023 She became dearly attached to her older sister Catherine, who became the family’s caretaker as a young adolescent. Eleni Schirmer, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2023 The girl holds it dearly and turns it into a plaything that is also a reminder of her mother, who has gone to work. Nora Krug, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 The good doctor is already heading into this revival stripped of his wonderful original supporting cast (no Niles, Daphne, and Roz, no dearly departed Marty and Eddie) and iconic ’90s-Seattle setting. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2023 These six months mark 184 days of Evan’s family and friends missing him dearly. Caroline Guthrie, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2023 Scientists would dearly love to be able to model this weather, perhaps even predict its effects on the surface. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dearly was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near dearly

Cite this Entry

“Dearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dearly. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

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