dearly

/ˈdɪəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪrli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdir-lē/ (ame, mw)

dearly — adverb

1. to a very strong degree — used with verbs that express feelings or desires, such

1.副詞B1
釋義

to a very strong degree — used with verbs that express feelings or desires, such as love, want, or wish, to show that the feeling is deep and genuine

例句

Anjali loved her grandmother dearly and visited her every Sunday.

love + dearly for expressing deep affection

The Chen children dearly wanted a puppy for their birthday this year.

同義詞
  • very much

    neutral in register; works with a wider range of verbs

  • deeply

    suggests profound emotional depth; used with 'love', 'care', 'regret' but not 'want'

  • greatly

    emphasizes large degree; combines with 'admire', 'appreciate', 'benefit' but sounds more formal

反義詞
  • slightly

    opposite in terms of degree — 'I slightly preferred the blue one'

  • hardly

    opposite in terms of intensity — 'I hardly wanted to go'

文法句型

dearly + [love/want/wish/miss]

用法筆記

Only works with verbs of emotion or desire — 'love', 'want', 'wish', 'miss', 'long for'. Not used with action verbs ('I dearly ate lunch' is unnatural). 'Would dearly love + infinitive' is a common fixed pattern for expressing a strong wish in a polite way.

常見錯誤

❌We dearly enjoyed the concert.
✅We greatly enjoyed the concert.
💡'dearly' does not naturally combine with 'enjoy'; use 'greatly' instead.
❌I dearly need a rest.
✅I really need a rest.
💡'need' is a state, not an emotion; use 'really' or 'badly'.

2. requiring a very large amount of money to obtain — used when someone spends far

2.副詞B2
釋義

requiring a very large amount of money to obtain — used when someone spends far more than the usual or expected price for an item or service

例句

The couple paid dearly for the antique vase at the auction in London.

pay dearly for [item] — spending a large sum

Romi's mistake cost her dearly when the repair bill for the car arrived.

同義詞
反義詞
  • cheaply

    opposite manner of payment — 'We bought the furniture cheaply at the flea market.'

  • at a bargain

    opposite financial outcome — 'She got the bag at a bargain.'

文法句型

pay dearly for [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Most common with the verb 'pay'. The price is financial and expressed or implied in context. 'Cost someone dearly' is also a fixed expression where 'cost' means 'require payment of a large amount'.

常見錯誤

❌The tickets were dearly expensive.
✅The tickets were extremely expensive.
💡'dearly' modifies the verb 'pay' or 'cost', not the adjective 'expensive'.
❌I bought it dearly.
✅I paid dearly for it.
💡'dearly' needs the verb 'pay' (or 'cost') to sound natural when talking about price.

3. used when someone suffers serious harm, pain, or loss because of something they

3.副詞B2
釋義

used when someone suffers serious harm, pain, or loss because of something they did or something that happened — the price is measured in hardship, not in money

例句

Asher paid dearly for ignoring the early signs of the lung disease.

pay dearly for ignoring — negative consequence of inaction

The coastal town paid dearly when the factory closed and jobs disappeared.

同義詞
反義詞
  • with ease

    opposite of experiencing difficulty — 'She passed the exam with ease'

  • painlessly

    opposite of suffering — 'The transition happened painlessly'

文法句型

pay dearly for [mistake/action]

cost [someone] dearly

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 2 (EXPENSIVELY): sense 2 refers to a financial price, while sense 3 refers to suffering, loss, or damage. The same sentence 'His mistake cost him dearly' could match either sense depending on context — financial loss or personal suffering. The verb 'pay' is by far the most common verb used.

常見錯誤

❌We dearly suffered from the storm.
✅We suffered dearly from the storm.
💡'dearly' must follow the verb, not precede it, in this sense.
❌I dearly lost the game.
✅I paid dearly for losing the game.
💡'pay dearly for' is the natural structure; 'dearly' alone does not attach to 'lose'.

4. showing love and tenderness through gentle actions or affectionate words — the f

4.副詞B2
釋義

showing love and tenderness through gentle actions or affectionate words — the focus is on the quality of emotional care, not the strength of the feeling

例句

The grandmother hugged each grandchild dearly at the big family reunion.

hug + dearly — physical gesture done with love

Anthony kissed his daughter dearly before tucking her into bed at night.

同義詞
  • fondly

    very close in meaning; slightly more literary

  • warmly

    emphasizes friendliness and kindness; wider verb range

  • tenderly

    suggests gentleness and care; often used with physical gestures

反義詞
  • coldly

    opposite manner — 'She spoke coldly to the stranger at the door'

  • indifferently

    opposite of caring — 'He treated the problem indifferently'

文法句型

[verb] dearly — e.g. hug dearly, speak dearly of

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (VERY MUCH): sense 1 measures the intensity of a feeling ('I love you dearly' = 'I love you very much'), while sense 4 describes how an action is performed ('She hugged him dearly' = 'She hugged him in a loving way'). The two can overlap — 'He loved her dearly' could express either intensity or manner, depending on context.

常見錯誤

❌She dearly smiled at the baby.
✅She smiled at the baby dearly.
💡Less natural; 'dearly' works better with verbs of physical affection (hug, kiss) or speech (speak of, think of) than with facial expressions.