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

Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini play besties on ‘Dead to Me’ and adore each other in real life.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

When you’re first trying to get more vegetables in, it helps to notice where you already adore them in the wild.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 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

Marlena smiles in delight, clapping, extending her hands toward Rosie and inviting the crowd to adore her.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Related Words

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