adore

American  

[uh-dawr, uh-dohr] / əˈdɔr, əˈdoʊr /

verb (used with object)

adored, adoring

1. to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect; honor.

   Synonyms:

   venerate, revere, reverence, idolize

   Antonyms:

   abhor

2. to pay divine honor to; worship.

   to adore God.

3. to like or admire very much.

   I simply adore the way your hair is done!

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verb (used without object)

adored, adoring

1. to worship.

adore British  

/ əˈdɔː /

verb

1. (tr) to love intensely or deeply

2. to worship (a god) with religious rites

3. informal (tr) to like very much

   I adore chocolate

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Other Word Forms

• adorer noun
• adoring adjective
• adoringly adverb
• unadored adjective
• unadoring adjective
• unadoringly adverb

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” ( oration ); replacing Middle English aour(i)e, from Old French aourer, from Latin

Example Sentences

Although Ms. Morrone dominates the action and the visuals—and cinematographers Bobby Shore and Krzysztof Trojnar clearly adore her—the supporting cast also brings gifts to the ceremony.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

“Our structure gives us lots of liberty. We can work on odd subjects and films that we adore, ones we really believe can find an audience.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

"I think flowers are cool, because this is a small celebration or something just to show how how much you really adore this person," he says.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

All are quick to point out that they adore the goals of this project.

From Slate • Feb. 12, 2026

“No, I haven’t seen your pipe. And I adore winter. My favorite part was skating around the ships locked in solid by the ice. The Bensons were there, and the Peales, remember? It was delightful.”

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

• admire
• cherish
• delight in
• fall for
• idolize
• revere
• worship