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best-loved

best-loved

4 3.4
Liked more than other things of the same kind
  • adjective
  • /ˈbɛst lʌvd/
translation icon : más querido
  • That air of efficiency was one of her best-loved and most effective masks; she wore it now with determination.

Examples

  • In Molina's film, Pastora is portrayed by Concha Velasco, one of Spain's best-loved actresses.

    Academic text (1998)
  • I really think you can tell the best-loved dolls by how ruined their hair is.

    Blog text (2)
  • We're gathered here to join two of our best-loved children...

  • His best-loved dress was red with black ladybugs.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Roland Harvey is one of Australia's best-loved illustrators.

    Blog text (11)
  • I don't care what the public thinks of London's best-loved detective, Sherlock Holmes.

  • Mark Twain created one of America's best-loved troublemakers, Tom Sawyer, 125 years ago.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • At 78, he is Denmark's best-loved poet, and his Complete Poems, despite weighing in at over 1,000 pages, is easily the best-selling poetry collection in the nation's history.

    Academic text (2008)
  • It's not long until the series itself will be back with a vengeance, but in the meantime, Pond Life is a truly heartwarming piece about our best-loved companions and their madcap relationship with their raggedy Doctor.

    Blog text (2)
  • The novel is considered one of the best-loved classics in literature.

Synonyms

dear
vsbest-loved
1.0

Loved and valued very much

focuses more on being most preferred rather than simple closeness
favorite
vsbest-loved
  • US
1.0

Liked more than other people or things

is more about deep affection rather than mere choice
beloved
vsbest-loved
377 2.1

Very much loved, often for a long time

is more about being preferred above others rather than only affection
dearest
vsbest-loved
  • Informal
162 2.2

A person you love very much

is broader and names top preference beyond personal address
darling
vsbest-loved
  • Informal
45 1.8

Loved very much by someone

is used more generally for top choice or valued items as well
cherished
vsbest-loved
1 3.4

Very much loved and kept, like a special photo or memory

is more about being chosen above other items or people
treasured
vsbest-loved
1 4.1

A thing people keep because they love it and it brings memories

places more focus on being selected above other choices
prized
vsbest-loved
1 3.4

Very valuable to someone because they care about it

emphasizes personal affection and being chosen first instead of value
fave
vsbest-loved
  • Informal
7.9

Most liked thing of its kind used before a noun

is more about lasting affection rather than casual liking
fav
vsbest-loved
  • Informal
7.4

Liked most by someone

is about deep personal affection rather than brief preference
loved
vsbest-loved
1.0

A person or thing that someone cares about very much

adds the idea of being the top preference rather than only warmth
adored
vsbest-loved
2.6

Loved very much by one person or by many people

is more about being preferred above others rather than extreme intensity
belove
vsbest-loved
  • Archaic
9.9

A person or thing that someone loves very much

is the modern everyday equivalent rather than the archaic form

Antonyms

1 2.0

Very strongly disliked or avoided by many people

How Loved

best-loved
4 3.4
beloved
377 2.1
loved
1.0
liked
1.0

Surface Forms

best-loved positive

Morphology

best-loved = best + loved (transparent) = best + love

The meaning is directly the superlative modifier 'best' applied to 'loved' (most loved), a straightforward compound.

Etymology

Best-loved comes from two simple words: best meaning 'most' and loved meaning 'liked a lot'. So best-loved describes something someone likes most or cares for above all others.