Definitions

darling

[dahr-ling] / ˈdɑr lɪŋ /

NOUN

sweetheart, favorite person

Synonyms

STRONG

angel baby beloved boyfriend dear dearest dearie flame friend girlfriend love lover pet sugar sweetie treasure truelove

WEAK

apple of one's eye dear one fair-haired boy heart's desire honeybunch light of my life one and only precious

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You simply must try the lobster ravioli, darling, it tastes even better on the brink of global collapse.”

From Salon • Jun. 13, 2026

McGinn is the darling of the Tartan Army, the 'Super John McGinn' song being as much a part of their world as kilts and bevvy.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

While OpenAI was the boom’s first darling, the corporate chaos exposed by the courtroom drama with Musk only reinforces why it is losing steam.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

The former internet darling showed off its AI credentials with surging orders in its fiscal third-quarter earnings report late Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

"Oh, darling, I've been so miserable," Brett said.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

Vocabulary lists containing darling

Love Letter Words for Valentine's Day

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Sonnet 18

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Abbey Road

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!