Definition of fond adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

fond

adjective

/fɒnd/

/fɑːnd/

(comparative fonder, superlative fondest)

fond of somebody having warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time
- Over the years, I have grown quite fond of her.
- I’ve always been very fond of your mother.
Synonyms love
lovelike ▪ be fond of somebody ▪ adore ▪ be devoted to somebody ▪ care for somebody ▪ dote on somebodyThese words all mean to have feelings of liking or caring for somebody.
love to have strong feelings of caring for somebody:
I love you.
like to find somebody pleasant and enjoy being with them:
She’s nice. I like her.
be fond of somebody to have warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time:
I’ve always been very fond of your mother.
adore to love somebody very much:
It’s obvious that she adores him.
be devoted to somebody to love somebody very much and support them in everything:
They are devoted to their children.
care for somebody to love somebody, especially in a way that is based on a feeling of liking them very much or wanting to protect them, rather than sex:
He cared for her more than she realized.
Care for somebody is often used when somebody has not told anyone about their feelings or is just starting to be aware of them. It is also used when somebody wishes that somebody loved them, or doubts that somebody does: If he really cared for you, he wouldn’t behave like that. dote on somebody to feel and show great love for somebody, ignoring their faults:
He dotes on his children.
Patterns
- to really love/like/adore/care for/dote on somebody
- to be really/genuinely fond of/devoted to somebody
- to love/like/care for somebody very much
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- seem
- become
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
See full entry
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fond of (doing) something finding something pleasant, especially something you have liked or enjoyed for a long time
- fond of music/cooking
- We had grown fond of the house and didn't want to leave.
Synonyms like
likelove ▪ be fond of ▪ be keen on something ▪ adoreThese words all mean to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard, or to enjoy something.
like to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something:
Do you like their new house?
I like to see them enjoying themselves.
love to like or enjoy something very much:
He loved the way she smiled.
be fond of something to like or enjoy something, especially something you have liked or enjoyed for a long time:
We were fond of the house and didn’t want to leave.
be keen on something (British English informal) (often used in negative statements) to like or enjoy something:
I’m not keen on spicy food.
She’s not keen on being told what to do.
adore (informal) to like or enjoy something very much:
She adores working with children.
love or adore?Adore is more informal than love, and is used to express a stronger feeling.Patterns
- to like/love/be fond of/be keen on/adore doing something
- to like/love to do something
- to like/love something very much
- I like/love/adore it here/there/when…
- to like/love/adore the way somebody does something
- to really like/love/adore somebody/something
- to be really fond of/keen on something
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- seem
- become
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
See full entry
fond of (doing) something liking to do something that other people find annoying or unpleasant, and doing it often
- Sheila's very fond of telling other people what to do.
- He's rather too fond of the sound of his own voice (= he talks too much).
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verbs
- be
- seem
- become
- …
adverb
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
See full entry
[only before noun] kind and loving synonym affectionate
- a fond look/embrace/farewell
- She waved a fond farewell to her parents and sister.
- I have very fond memories of my time in Spain (= I remember it with affection and pleasure).
Topics Feelingsc1
[only before noun] fond hope a hope about something that is not likely to happen
- I waited all day in the fond hope that she would change her mind.

Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘infatuated, foolish’): from obsolete fon ‘a fool, be foolish’, of unknown origin. Compare with fun.

See fond in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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