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loved one
/lʌvd wʌn/
person you care deeply for
She spent the holidays with her loved ones.
She spent the holidays with the people she cares about most.
general
A person, such as a family member or partner, whom you love and care about deeply.
He is grateful for the support of his loved ones during his recovery.
He appreciates the help from his family and close friends while he heals.
Often used in the plural ('loved ones') to refer to a group of close relations.
Collocations
visit a loved onego see someone you lovesupport a loved onehelp someone you care about
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Inclusivity
Use 'loved ones' when you want to include non-traditional family structures or close friends who are like family.
Gold Rule
Plural Usage
It is very common to use the plural form 'loved ones' when referring to a group.
Word Origin
Compound of 'love' (Old English lufu) and 'one' (Old English ān). The phrase emerged in modern English to provide a warm, inclusive term for close relations.
Usage Notes
This phrase is emotionally warm and inclusive. It is often used in formal contexts (like hospitals or legal documents) to cover all types of close relationships without specifying 'husband', 'mother', etc.
Word Breakdown
loved
past participle of love; showing affection
rootone
a person
rootEnglish Dictionary