beloved

adjective

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

Synonyms of beloved

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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
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.
This led to Parton soaring on the charts, with two of her beloved 1974 hits debuting in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 One of Parton’s most beloved and well-known songs, the 1973 hit has been covered by hundreds of artists over the years, from Miley Cyrus to The White Stripes. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 These folks include my sister, two brothers and a beloved SIL, all who’ve been a loving part of our 41-year-old’s life since birth. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026 During her show at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday night, Musgraves paused the concert to remember the beloved country superstar a week after her death at 80. — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beloved

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

Phrases Containing beloved

Rhymes for beloved

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Browse Nearby Words

Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction
beloved
below
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Cite this Entry

“Beloved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beloved. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beloved

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