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
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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.
The admiration Ms. Footer has for Bradley is obvious, but it sometimes leads her to embroider the little that is known of his inner life.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
"I am a great admirer of America's, but right now my admiration is not increasing," he said, to laughter from the audience.
From Barron's • May 15, 2026
Powell’s calm but forceful defense of Fed independence likely staved off larger attacks on the institution and won him admiration and awards, like the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award.
From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026
All were unified in their admiration of the night’s guests of honor.
From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2026
His tone was light, but the love and admiration in the words were clear for all to hear.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
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.
