What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dear vs Favorite - What's the difference?

dear | favorite |

As adjectives the difference between dear and favorite

is that dear is loved; lovable or dear can be severe(ly affected), sore while favorite is preferred.

As nouns the difference between dear and favorite

is that dear is a very kind, loving person while favorite is preferred one, one with special favor.

As verbs the difference between dear and favorite

is that dear is (obsolete) to endear while favorite is .

As an adverb dear

is (obsolete) dearly; at a high price.

dear

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) dere, from (etyl) .

Adjective

(er)
  • Loved; lovable.
  • *
  • *:So this was my future home, I thought!Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.
  • Loving, affectionate, heartfelt
  • :
  • Precious to or greatly valued by someone.
  • :
  • High in price; expensive.
  • :
  • A formal way to start (possibly after my ) addressing somebody at the beginning of a letter, memo etc.
  • :
  • A formal way to start (often after my ) addressing somebody one likes or regards kindly.
  • :
  • *, chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=“A very welcome, kind, useful present, that means to the parish. By the way, Hopkins, let this go no further. We don't want the tale running round that a rich person has arrived. Churchill, my dear fellow, we have such greedy sharks, and wolves in lamb's clothing.
  • An ironic way to start (often after my ) addressing an inferior.
  • :
  • (lb) Noble.
  • Derived terms
    * dearly * dear me * dearness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A very kind, loving person.
  • My cousin is such a dear , always drawing me pictures.
  • A beloved person
  • Synonyms
    * (kind loving person) darling
    Derived terms
    * oh dear * the dear knows

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To endear.
  • (Shelton)

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) dearly; at a high price
  • * Shakespeare
  • If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear .

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) dere, from (etyl) . Cognate with the above

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Severe(ly affected), sore
  • Statistics

    *

    favorite

    Alternative forms

    * (British English) favourite

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Preferred.
  • That is my favorite flavor of ice cream. I'd eat it daily if I could.

    Antonyms

    * (preferred) (l), (l)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Preferred one, one with special favor
  • The teacher's favorite always went first.
  • Expected or most probable to win.
  • He's the favorite , he'll probably be elected.

    Synonyms

    * (expected to win) top dog

    Antonyms

    * (preferred) (l)

    Verb

    (favorit)
  • (Internet) To bookmark.
  • (Internet) To add to one's list of favorites on a website that allows users to compile such lists.
  • Antonyms

    * (add to a list of favorites) (l) ----