adore
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
-
(tr) to love intensely or deeply
-
to worship (a god) with religious rites
-
informal (tr) to like very much
I adore chocolate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of adore
First recorded in 1275–1325; from Latin adōrāre “to speak to, pray, worship,” from ad- ad- + ōrāre “to beg, plead, speak” ( see oration); replacing Middle English aour(i)e, from Old French aourer, from Latin
Explanation
Someone you adore gets put on a pedestal. Considering your fear of germs, when you told me that you had shared a toothbrush — I knew you must adore her! Adore comes from the Latin word adorare, meaning “to worship.” So when you adore someone, it's more than just a crush. However, like many words of strong emotion, adore gets used in lighter situations as well. Your aunt tells me you just adore the miniature fruitcakes she sends you every holiday.
Vocabulary lists containing adore
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Christmas Carol Vocab: A Lyrical Lexicon
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Words for Carolers
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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.
So I made it in the mix, and I had a really fun time having one last little play at a show that I love and adore.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
“I love you, I adore you. Thank you very much!” singer Kim Nam-joon said in halting Spanish as a cacophony of screams erupted from the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
I adore those old movies because I grew up watching them presented in their original glory.
From Salon • May 8, 2026
Kim Nam-joon, one of the members of the group, said to the crowd in Spanish: "I love you, I adore you. Thank you very much!"
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
“You know how much I adore that little sister of yours. And you know what? I’m sure I would have loved you just as much when you were her age.”
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
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.
