adoration
Americannoun
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the act of paying honor, as to a divine being; worship.
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reverent homage.
-
fervent and devoted love.
noun
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deep love or esteem
-
the act of worshipping
Etymology
Origin of adoration
1535–45; < Latin adōrātiōn- (stem of adōrātiō ) worship. See adore, -ation
Explanation
Adoration is a feeling of deep love. Some people may say animals don't have emotions, but you know from the adoration in your dog's eyes that it's just not true. The noun adoration comes from the Latin word adorationem, which means "worship," particularly in a religious way. Adoration is still used today in a religious context, in phrases like "the adoration of God." If you adore or deeply love someone, you can describe that feeling as adoration. It's the kind of feeling Romeo had for Juliet, devoted fans have for a pop star, and you have for your beloved cat.
Vocabulary lists containing adoration
Dubliners
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"The Picture of Dorian Gray," Vocabulary from Chapters 5-8
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Camp Panda
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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.
Adoration of leaders can be dangerous and should not be a part of rational analysis.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
These are the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Adoration of the Magi; Jesus praying on the Mount of Olives, the Crucifixion and the Lamentation; and, finally, the Resurrection, Ascension and Pentecost.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025
This visitor center offers an augmented-reality experience shedding light on the creation of “The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb,” or the Ghent Altarpiece.
From Washington Post • Sep. 23, 2022
In 1985, the J. Paul Getty Museum set a record for the highest auction price paid for a painting when it bought Andrea Mantegna’s Adoration of the Magi for $10.4 million.
From The Verge • Oct. 16, 2020
He is wearing a richly worked gold and red oriental costume reminiscent of Balthazar’s in Jan Gossaert’s Adoration of the Magi, but without the crown and scarf.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
