dear
9.0
Suffering a lot as a result of something
- adverb
- /dɪr/
- Archaic
:
caro
- If we break some essential connections or relationships, we pay a dear price.
Examples
-
In times of war, freedom can come at a dear price, with many lives lost in the struggle.
-
He goes seeking liberty which is so dear, so dear as he knows who gives his life for it.
-
It's like holding for dear life in your Star Cutter.
-
Choosing to pursue his dreams came at a dear cost, as he had to leave his family behind.
-
The repairs to the ancient building turned out to be dear, requiring more funds than initially planned.
Synonyms
dearly
vsdear
39
3.9
At a very high cost that causes great loss
is chiefly literary and used to stress sacrifice or heavy cost
6
7.2
In a way that causes great harm, pain, or sadness
is about heavy personal cost or sacrifice rather than inflicted harm
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
How Costly
Surface Forms
dear positive
Etymology
Dear, as in 'paid dear', grew from the idea of 'expensive' and Old English dēore 'precious', so it means to suffer or lose a lot for something. In other words, to pay dear for something is to pay a high price for it.