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definitions

admire

[ ad-mahyuhr ]
/ ædˈmaɪər /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR admire ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ad·mired, ad·mir·ing.

to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.
to regard with wonder or surprise (usually used ironically or sarcastically): I admire your audacity.

verb (used without object), ad·mired, ad·mir·ing.

to feel or express admiration.
Dialect. to take pleasure; like or desire: I would admire to go.

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RELATED WORDS

extol, prize, applaud, treasure, appreciate, laud, honor, commend, credit, adore, hail, praise, cherish, respect, worship, revere, idolize, glorify, eulogize, value

Nearby words

  1. admiralty law,
  2. admiralty metal,
  3. admiralty mile,
  4. admiralty range,
  5. admiration,
  6. admirer,
  7. admiring,
  8. admiringly,
  9. admissibility,
  10. admissible

Idioms

    be admiring of, Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to admire: He's admiring of his brother's farm.

Origin of admire

1580–90; < Latin admīrārī, equivalent to ad- ad- + mīrārī (in Medieval Latin mīrāre) to wonder at, admire
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for admire

British Dictionary definitions for admire

admire

/ (ədˈmaɪə) /

verb (tr)

to regard with esteem, respect, approval, or pleased surprise
archaic to wonder at
Derived Formsadmirer, nounadmiring, adjectiveadmiringly, adverb

Word Origin for admire

C16: from Latin admīrāri to wonder at, from ad- to, at + mīrāri to wonder, from mīrus wonderful
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for admire

admire

v.

early 15c. (implied in admired), from Middle French admirer (Old French amirer, 14c.), or directly from Latin admirari "to wonder at" (see admiration). Related: Admiring; admiringly.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper