We use 'dear' to talk about someone we love or like a lot. It shows feelings of care and kindness.
My dear friend helped me today.
She is very dear to her family.
'Dear' starts many letters or emails. It is polite and shows respect to the person we write to.
Dear John, I hope you are well.
Dear customer, thank you for your order.
'Dear' can be said to show strong feeling. It is used when people are surprised, worried, or sad.
Dear! I forgot my keys again!
Oh dear, that was a big mistake.
Historically, 'dear' was an older form or dialect word for any deer. It is now rare and mainly in literature.
The dear grazed silently in the meadow.
Stories told of the dear in old forests.
