dearly
DEER-lee
Dearly (adv) means Very much; deeply. Example: “She loved her grandmother dearly.”
adv
1
Very much; deeply.
"She loved her grandmother dearly."
"He wished dearly that he'd said goodbye properly."
2
At great cost, especially figuratively.
"They paid dearly for their mistake."
How to use dearly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery deeply (with love, loss, or wishing) or, figuratively, at a great cost.
Common pairings
dearly loved
pay dearly
dearly missed
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dearly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more dearly, dearlier
- Superlative
- most dearly, dearliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She loved her grandmother _____.
Etymology
From Old English deorlice, built on dear plus -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dearly
See all rhymes for dearly →Frequently asked questions
What does “dearly” mean?
The word “dearly” means very much; deeply. In plain terms, very deeply (with love, loss, or wishing) or, figuratively, at a great cost.
How do you pronounce “dearly”?
“Dearly” is pronounced DEER-lee (/ˈdɪɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “dearly” in a sentence?
Here is “dearly” used in a sentence: “She loved her grandmother dearly.”
What part of speech is “dearly”?
“Dearly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “dearly” come from?
The word “dearly” comes from Old English. From Old English deorlice, built on dear plus -ly.
Is “dearly” a common word?
“Dearly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “dearly” have?
“Dearly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: very much; deeply.
