Loved — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈləv/

Meaning & Definition of Loved

Loved (verb)

  1. to feel great affection for, to hold dear, cherish
  2. to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for
  3. caress

Loved (noun)

  1. a person one loves and especially a member of one's family

Loved (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. granted special treatment or attention

    "her grandparents' constant doting made her feel especially loved"

    similar: beloved, cherished, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed
    related: admired, adored, appreciated, esteemed, relished, revered, prized, treasured, preferred
    opposite: unbeloved
    near: abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, disdained, disfavored, disliked, execrated, hated, loathed, unfavorite, abandoned, forgotten, ignored, alienated, estranged

Loved (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold dear

    "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it"

    similar: appreciated, cherished, prized, treasured, valued, set store by
    related: delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, grooved (on), liked, relished, reveled (in), admired, apprized, esteemed, regarded, respected, revered, reverenced, venerated, enshrined, memorialized, adored, caressed, doted (on), idolized, worshipped
    opposite: disvalued
    near: undervalued, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed, disdained, high-hatted, scorned, scouted, slighted, sniffed (at), snubbed, bad-mouthed, belittled, cried down, decried, deprecated, depreciated, disparaged, kissed off, minimized, put down, wrote off, abandoned, forgot, neglected

  2. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "a husband who loves his wife more than anything"

    similar: adored, cherished, worshipped, carried a torch (for), fell for, lost one's heart (to)
    related: adulated, canonized, deified, idealized, idolized, revered, reverenced, venerated, delighted (in), doted (on)
    opposite: abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed
    near: antagonized, displeased, disapproved (of), disfavored, disliked, disgusted, nauseated, repelled, repulsed, revolted, sickened, turned off

  3. to take pleasure in

    "I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain"

    similar: adored, delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, got off (on), grooved (on), liked, rejoiced (in), relished, reveled (in), savored, got a kick out of, had a soft spot for, took to, was partial to, went for
    related: admired, appreciated, cherished, revered, venerated, worshipped, prized, treasured, valued, ate (up), devoured, drank (in), feasted (on), doted (on), idolized, cottoned (to), favored, preferred, indulged (in), luxuriated (in), wallowed (in)
    near: abhorred, abominated, detested, disliked, hated, loathed, condemned, despised, scorned

  4. to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

    "the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back"

    similar: caressed, fondled, gentled, patted, petted, stroked
    related: billed, canoodled, cuddled, necked, nestled, nosed, nuzzled, snuggled, spooned, felt up, pawed, cradled, embraced, enfolded, hugged, bounced, dandled, kneaded, massaged, babied, coddled, indulged, mollycoddled, pampered, spoiled

Related Entry: Love (verb)

Love is a different word from Loved. The synonyms below are for love, not for loved.

  1. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "a husband who loves his wife more than anything"

    similar: adore, cherish, worship, carry a torch (for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)
    related: adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, delight (in), dote (on)
    opposite: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe
    near: antagonize, displease, disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike, disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

  2. to hold dear

    "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it"

    similar: appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value, set store by
    related: delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in), admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate, enshrine, memorialize, adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship
    opposite: disvalue
    near: undervalue, abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub, bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off, abandon, forget, neglect

  3. to take pleasure in

    "I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain"

    similar: adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, get off (on), groove (on), like, rejoice (in), relish, revel (in), savor, be partial to, get a kick out of, go for, have a soft spot for, take to
    related: admire, appreciate, cherish, revere, venerate, worship, prize, treasure, value, devour, drink (in), eat (up), feast (on), dote (on), idolize, cotton (to), favor, prefer, indulge (in), luxuriate (in), wallow (in)
    near: abhor, abominate, detest, dislike, hate, loathe, condemn, despise, scorn

  4. to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner

    "the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back"

    similar: caress, fondle, gentle, pat, pet, stroke
    related: bill, canoodle, cuddle, neck, nestle, nose, nuzzle, snuggle, spoon, feel up, paw, cradle, embrace, enfold, hug, bounce, dandle, knead, massage, baby, coddle, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Loved

The most common words with a similar meaning to Loved:

beloved, cherished, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed, appreciated, prized, treasured, valued, adored, worshipped, delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, got off (on), grooved (on), liked, rejoiced (in), relished, reveled (in), savored, caressed, fondled, gentled, patted, petted, stroked, set store by, carried a torch (for), fell for, lost one's heart (to)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Loved

Words with the opposite meaning of Loved:

unbeloved, disvalued, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed

Related Words for Loved

admired, esteemed, revered, preferred, apprized, regarded, respected, reverenced, venerated, enshrined, memorialized, doted (on), idolized, adulated, canonized, deified, idealized, ate (up), devoured, drank (in), feasted (on), cottoned (to), indulged (in), luxuriated (in), wallowed (in), billed, canoodled, cuddled, necked, nestled

Near Antonyms of Loved

disdained, disfavored, disliked, unfavorite, abandoned, forgotten, ignored, alienated, estranged, undervalued, high-hatted, scorned, scouted, slighted, sniffed (at), snubbed, bad-mouthed, belittled, cried down, decried, deprecated, depreciated, disparaged, kissed off, minimized, put down, wrote off, forgot, neglected, antagonized

Word Forms of Loved

Inflections: loving

Origin & Etymology of Loved

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Loved

loved one

Frequently Asked Questions about Loved

What does "Loved" mean?

"Loved" means to feel great affection for, to hold dear, cherish. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to feel great affection for, to hold dear, cherish. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Loved"?

Other words for "Loved" include beloved, cherished, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite and fond. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Loved" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Loved"?

There are 95 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Loved". Common alternatives include beloved, cherished, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, pet and precious.

What is the opposite of "Loved"?

Antonyms of "Loved" include unbeloved, disvalued, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated and hated. Near antonyms include disdained, disfavored, disliked and unfavorite.

How do you use "Loved" in a sentence?

Examples of "Loved" in a sentence: "her grandparents' constant doting made her feel especially loved"; "patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it"; "a husband who loves his wife more than anything".

Is "Loved" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Loved" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Loved"?

"Loved" is pronounced /ˈləv/.

What is the origin of the word "Loved"?

First known use: before 12th centuryt.