Synonyms

admirer

American

[ad-mahyuhr-er] / ædˈmaɪər ər /

noun

a person who regards someone or something with wonder, pleasure, or approval.

His admirers say he has all the qualities of a good presenter—he's unflappable, charming, and witty.
A popular plot in classic films is the story of a famous actress or dancer who receives a dozen roses after her performance with a card signed, “A secret admirer.”

Other Word Forms

preadmirer

noun

Etymology

Origin of admirer

admire ( def. ) + -er ¹

Explanation

An admirer is a fan, supporter, or lover. If you're an admirer of Jane Austen, you are enthusiastic about her novels and appreciate her writing. The president of a pop star's fan club can describe himself as the star's admirer, and a college student who is crazy about her psychology professor is also an admirer. If there's someone in your life who leaves unsigned love notes in your mailbox, you can call that person your "secret admirer." In the 1700s, the word was primarily romantic, and it comes from a Latin root, admirari, "to wonder at."

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Vocabulary lists containing admirer

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -er, -or

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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.

Born Kelly Kamalelehua Smith in Honolulu, she changed her name to Kelly Preston before securing her first film role in the 1985 romcom Mischief, then appeared in another teen comedy, Secret Admirer.

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2020

A devoted father, Joyce worried much about Lucia, spent a good part of the income left him by Admirer Harriet Weaver on Lucia's doctor and sanatorium bills.

From Time Magazine Archive

After an unofficial send-off from Admirer Auslander at the Library of Congress, the Pilgrimage got under way last Sunday.

From Time Magazine Archive

Added to these were 220 canvases willed by Scottish Admirer F. Hall Standish.

From Time Magazine Archive

I wanted to be the girl with a special card signed Your Secret Admirer.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023