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.
In the past, that has cost the company dearly, though perhaps not enough. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 There’s peace—paid for dearly—after a long pause, or a dark room demanding to be occupied. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 There is something so special about getting to be part of a brand that people love so dearly and passionately. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 The Maple Leafs missed him dearly, surrendering more goals than any other Toronto team in the salary cap era. — Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 23 Sep. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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