Definition of 'darling'
Word forms: plural darlings
2. vocative noun
In some parts of Britain, people call other people darling as a sign of friendliness.
[feelings] 3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Some people use darling to describe someone or something that they love or like very much.
[informal]
4. countable noun
5. countable noun [with poss]
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
darling in British English
noun
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English dēorling; see dear, -ling1Word Frequency
Darling in British English
noun
1.
Alistair (Maclean), Baron. 1953–2023, British Labour politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (2007–10)
2.
Grace. 1815–42, English national heroine, famous for her rescue (1838) of some shipwrecked sailors with her father, a lighthouse keeper
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
darling in American English
noun
1.
a person much loved by another
often a term of affectionate address2.
a favorite
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
darling in American English
(ˈdɑːrlɪŋ)
noun
1.
a person very dear to another; one dearly loved
3.
a person or thing in great favor; a favorite
She was the darling of café society
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
darlingly adverb
darlingness
noun
Examples of 'darling' in a sentence
darling
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.
We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…
Trends of
darling
View usage for:
Source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
In other languages
darling
British English: darling
/ˈdɑːlɪŋ/ NOUN
You call someone darling if you love them or like them very much.
Thank you, darling.
- American English: darling /ˈdɑrlɪŋ/
- Arabic: حَبِيب
- Brazilian Portuguese: querido
- Chinese: 亲爱的人
- Croatian: dragi
- Czech: miláček
- Danish: skat person
- Dutch: lieveling
- European Spanish: cariño
- Finnish: kulta hellittelysana
- French: chéri
- German: Liebling
- Greek: αγαπημένος
- Italian: tesoro
- Japanese: いとしい人
- Korean: 사랑스러운 사람
- Norwegian: elskling
- Polish: ukochany
- European Portuguese: querido
- Romanian: dragă
- Russian: любимый
- Latin American Spanish: cariño
- Swedish: älskling
- Thai: ที่รัก
- Turkish: sevgilim
- Ukrainian: любий
- Vietnamese: người yêu dấu
British English: darling
ADJECTIVE /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/
Some people use darling to describe someone or something that they love or like very much.
To have a darling baby boy was the greatest gift I could imagine.
Browse alphabetically
darling
Related terms of
darling
Source
Definition of darling from the Collins English Dictionary
Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries.
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
PETS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
budgerigar
ferret
canary
parrot
PETS
Drag the correct answer into the box.
dog
canary
rat
hamster
Your score:
Word of the day
gardening
the planning and cultivation of a garden
Latest Word Submissions
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
FRUIT
Drag the correct answer into the box.
cherry
apple
apricot
lime
Your score:
Sting-Nettle Day
We're taking a closer look at the intriguing expressions and customs that have grown up around one of the most versatile plants out there - the stinging nettle.
Read more
Learning English: Saying goodbye
Learn informal ways to say goodbye in British English - from 'Goodbye' to 'See ya!' with examples and tips for everyday use.
Read more
Scrabble: Spoilt for Choice
Strategize your Scrabble moves based on anagrams on the board, score, vowel placement, and hooks to get the best score you can.
Read more
‘100 Words for Rain’ by Alex Johnson
Discover the allure of weather lore and literary references in "100 Words for Rain" and delve into rain phenomena and cultural anecdotes.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more