Beloved

adj.kind, joyfulwarm

What it means

Held in deep and enduring affection by a person or community.

Reach for it when honoring someone or something whose place in people's hearts is established

The beloved librarian remembered which stories each child liked best.

everyday
dear
when close personal affection needs a simple word
not when Dear is often too intimate for an institution loved by a whole town.
everyday
favorite
when preference, not deep love, is what the sentence means
not when Being chosen most often is weaker than occupying a lasting emotional place.
warm
adored
when affection is intense and openly enthusiastic
not when Adored may sound exuberant where beloved calls for dignified remembrance.
warm
cherished
when careful protection and personal value are prominent
not when Cherished can describe a private possession without suggesting broad affection.
warm
precious
when vulnerability or rarity heightens the affection
not when Applied to an adult colleague, precious can sound patronizing or ironic.
warm
treasured
when someone or something is valued as irreplaceable
not when A popular public figure may be beloved without being personally treasured by each admirer.
professional
esteemed
when respect for standing or achievement is central
not when Esteem is professional regard, not evidence that someone is loved.
formal
revered
when admiration includes profound respect
not when Revered can lack the warmth and familiarity carried by beloved.

beloved friend
Their beloved friend received a book filled with handwritten memories.
beloved teacher
A beloved teacher can shape a school long after retirement.
much-beloved
The much-beloved café reopened after neighbors helped with repairs.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.