adoration
Americannoun
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the act of paying honor, as to a divine being; worship.
-
reverent homage.
-
fervent and devoted love.
noun
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deep love or esteem
-
the act of worshipping
Etymology
Origin of adoration
1535–45; < Latin adōrātiōn- (stem of adōrātiō ) worship. See adore, -ation
Explanation
Adoration is a feeling of deep love. Some people may say animals don't have emotions, but you know from the adoration in your dog's eyes that it's just not true. The noun adoration comes from the Latin word adorationem, which means "worship," particularly in a religious way. Adoration is still used today in a religious context, in phrases like "the adoration of God." If you adore or deeply love someone, you can describe that feeling as adoration. It's the kind of feeling Romeo had for Juliet, devoted fans have for a pop star, and you have for your beloved cat.
Vocabulary lists containing adoration
Dubliners
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"The Picture of Dorian Gray," Vocabulary from Chapters 5-8
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Camp Panda
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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.
Many items on sale reveal her adoration of animals, including a large selection of cuddly toys and collars that belonged to her dogs.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
He was a boogie boarder until the object of his adoration told him, “What are you riding that for? You should be surfing. Get a surfboard.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
This is a country where adoration of the national team is so fervent that many fans build their financial planning around the World Cup, taking out loans to buy tickets every four years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The BBC's Helen Livingstone recaps Neil's time spent ashore in southern Tasmania, explaining the chaos and adoration that ensued.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
My adoration of Mr. Muhammad grew, in the sense of the Latin root word adorare.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
