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.
Join the dearly beloved under the stars for a reception worthy of the afterlife, with spirited DJ sets, drinks to wake the dead, and a free photobooth for your drop-dead gorgeous wedding portrait. — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 Then there are the fragmented attention spans birthed by our dearly beloved screens, which cultivate a kind of cognitive whiplash that vacillates between amnesia and yearning for more. — Christopher Coffman, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026 The new benefit will cost the state dearly and fall particularly hard on local governments, which have been cutting services and raising taxes to pay their escalating pension bills. — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 21 Aug. 2026 That exchange rate is helpful because the tickets are going to cost you dearly. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing dearly

Rhymes for dearly

See All Rhymes for dearly

Browse Nearby Words

dearling
dearly
dearness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dearly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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