# beloved

/bɪˈɫəvd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beloved
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. dearly loved

adjective · CEFR B2

very much loved and appreciated.

For teachers: dearly loved; held in deep affection. Often used before a noun to indicate a strong emotional bond.

- The old man read the letter from his beloved granddaughter every single day.
- The professor retired after forty years, leaving behind a beloved collection of rare manuscripts that he donated to the university library.

### 2. a romantic partner

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person that you love very much, usually a romantic partner.

For teachers: a person who is greatly loved, typically used in a romantic or highly sentimental context.

- He wrote a beautiful poem dedicated to his beloved.
- In the final act of the play, the hero is reunited with his beloved after years of tragic separation.

Usage: Often used with a possessive pronoun like 'my' or 'his'.

## Examples

- She keeps a photo of her beloved grandmother on her desk.
- The author returned to his beloved hometown to write his final novel among the hills where he grew up.
- The restoration of the beloved cathedral became a symbol of national unity, drawing donations from citizens who had never even stepped inside its ancient stone walls.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.