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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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.

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

Peter Henriques, an admirer of Washington who has recently published two insightful books on his character, writes that Washington “was not a ‘selfless’ man or one who was simply engaging in disinterested service.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026

The arch-conservative Takaichi, a heavy metal drummer in her youth and an admirer of Margaret Thatcher, became Japan's fifth premier in as many years in October.

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

A longtime admirer of the franchise, Gad was immediately ready to say yes after reading the hilarious script — but he had one condition.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2026

He was an admirer of Pedro Tercero Garcia and had all his records.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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