admiration
Americannoun
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a feeling of wonder, pleasure, or approval.
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
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the act of looking on or contemplating with pleasure.
admiration of fine paintings.
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an object of wonder, pleasure, or approval.
The dancer was the admiration of everyone.
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Archaic. wonder; astonishment.
noun
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pleasurable contemplation or surprise
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a person or thing that is admired
she was the admiration of the court
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archaic wonder
Other Word Forms
- admirative adjective
- admiratively adverb
- self-admiration noun
- superadmiration noun
Etymology
Origin of admiration
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English admiracion, from Latin admīrātiōn-, stem of admīrātiō; equivalent to admire + -ation
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.
If you run across a professional athlete, pose for a photo standing right next to him, beta-smiling in admiration, and post it on social media.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
Some historians believe that the treason count was intentionally added by the prosecutors to tie the hands of Gov. Henry Wise, who had expressed some admiration for Brown’s courage and integrity.
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
He has admiration from O'Neill, who in 2012 was tasked with a similar job of trying to lift a Northern Ireland side at a low point.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Throughout the LP, the objects of Styles’ admiration — New Order, middle-era Radiohead, LCD Soundsystem — are almost comically obvious.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
Harriet was not insensible of manner; she had voluntarily noticed her father’s gentleness with admiration as well as wonder.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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.
