admire

[ad-mahyuhr]

verb (used with object)

admired, admiring 

1. to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.

   Synonyms: venerate, revere, esteem
   Antonyms: despise

2. to regard with wonder or surprise (usually used ironically or sarcastically).

   I admire your audacity.

verb (used without object)

admired, admiring 

1. to feel or express admiration.

2. Dialect.,  to take pleasure; like or desire.

   I would admire to go.

admire

/ ədˈmaɪə /

verb

1. to regard with esteem, respect, approval, or pleased surprise

2. archaic,  to wonder at

Other Word Forms

• admiring adjective
• admiringly adverb
• admirer noun
• preadmire verb (used with object)
• quasi-admire verb
• unadmired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of admire¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin admīrārī, equivalent to ad- ad- + mīrārī (in Medieval Latin mīrāre ) “to wonder at, admire”

Word History and Origins

Origin of admire¹

C16: from Latin admīrāri to wonder at, from ad- to, at + mīrāri to wonder, from mīrus wonderful

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be admiring of, to admire.

   He's admiring of his brother's farm.

Example Sentences

“I kind of admire the way he’s going about it because it’s so shameless,” Carlsen said on the Take Take Take podcast.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Roberts, their manager for the past 10 seasons, has become famous—or infamous—for treating his rotation like a set of fine china, meant to be admired but rarely put to any meaningful use.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It turns out they’ve admired each other’s work for years, and now together have produced “Remain,” which arrives on bookshelves next week and lands in movie theaters next October.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Harris is such an amazing actor and he is really someone I had admired before meeting him,” Dillane, 34, says, sitting next to Dickinson.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Instead, she dedicated herself to her craft, serving it with the talent, discipline and commitment that were always admired by her colleagues.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adore 
• applaud 
• appreciate 
• cherish 
• commend 
• credit 
• extol 
• hail 
• honor 
• idolize 
• laud 
• marvel at www.thesaurus.com
• praise 
• prize 
• respect 
• revere 
• treasure 
• worship