Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

near and dear

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.65 in modern English

Syllables: near and dear
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Loved or cared about greatly.

Example Sentences

"This bracelet is a gift from my spouse, who I hold near and dear."
"Writing has been near and dear to me for a long time."

Phrases

mean the world to

Frequently Paired Words

mean the world to keepsake

Questions

What does near and dear mean?: Loved or cared about greatly.

How to pronounce near and dear

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “near and dear”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “near and dear”.
Repeat and practice — Say “near and dear” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.