admiration
Americannoun
-
a feeling of wonder, pleasure, or approval.
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
-
the act of looking on or contemplating with pleasure.
admiration of fine paintings.
-
an object of wonder, pleasure, or approval.
The dancer was the admiration of everyone.
-
Archaic. wonder; astonishment.
noun
-
pleasurable contemplation or surprise
-
a person or thing that is admired
she was the admiration of the court
-
archaic wonder
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of admiration
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English admiracion, from Latin admīrātiōn-, stem of admīrātiō; equivalent to admire + -ation
Explanation
Admiration is the feeling of liking and appreciating, like your admiration of your older sister. You ask her for advice and hope to be just like her when you are older. The root of the word admiration is admire, which means "to regard with wonder or approval." People can receive admiration for many reasons, including their beauty, hard work, or intelligence. Often, there is a sense of gratitude or thanks when someone feels admiration. For example, your admiration for a favorite teacher includes an awareness of how much he or she helped you.
Vocabulary lists containing admiration
What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?
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From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 21
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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.
Their mutual admiration began in 2018 when their wives — former models who went on to have successful business careers — became friends.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
While her aesthetic is rooted in indie-rock and folk, her songwriting’s mix of rawness and precision has drawn admiration from pop’s elite, including artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
President Trump often has expressed his admiration for the 1890s in America, an era of high tariffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026
Thyme and honey belong to a mutual admiration society, as do berries and buttermilk; the woodiness of the herb plays beautifully against tangy yogurt, while orange zest somehow charms the entire table.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Ah!” cried Mr. Pumblechook, leaning back in his chair, quite flaccid with admiration, “that’s the way you know ’em, sir!”
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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.
