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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Another federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from obtaining sensitive information from the Education Department, an organization conservatives dearly want to raze, or the Office of Personnel and Management. Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025 Colorado would dearly love for the 23-year-old to take a giant leap forward. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2025 Humans have many relationships that dearly matter to them. Meredith Wolf Schizer, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 He will be dearly remembered for his love of his family. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dearly

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

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Cite this Entry

“Dearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dearly. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

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