admirer

American

[ad-mahyuhr-er] / ædˈmaɪər ər /

noun

a person who regards someone or something with wonder, pleasure, or approval.

His admirers say he has all the qualities of a good presenter—he's unflappable, charming, and witty.
A popular plot in classic films is the story of a famous actress or dancer who receives a dozen roses after her performance with a card signed, “A secret admirer.”

Other Word Forms

preadmirer

noun

Etymology

Origin of admirer

admire ( def. ) + -er ¹

Explanation

An admirer is a fan, supporter, or lover. If you're an admirer of Jane Austen, you are enthusiastic about her novels and appreciate her writing. The president of a pop star's fan club can describe himself as the star's admirer, and a college student who is crazy about her psychology professor is also an admirer. If there's someone in your life who leaves unsigned love notes in your mailbox, you can call that person your "secret admirer." In the 1700s, the word was primarily romantic, and it comes from a Latin root, admirari, "to wonder at."

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Vocabulary lists containing admirer

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -er, -or

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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.

CEO Dimon is a student and admirer of Buffett, and echoed that line of thinking on JPMorgan’s earnings conference call Tuesday.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Guardiola is a long-time admirer of Silva, who is his most selected player over his managerial career, and made him captain after the departure of Kevin de Bruyne at the end of last season.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

But I would have liked to have met him and say I’m an admirer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Ackerley exists in these pages only as Tulip’s admirer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

She didn’t have a mysterious admirer; it appeared they both had a mysterious matchmaker, which set Citra working on another mental list—at the top of which were her own parents.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023