admire
verb (used with object)
to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.
had admired
-
past perfectof admire.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Growing up in Roslyn, N.Y., where his mother was an interior decorator and his father ran a small business selling restaurant supplies, Gary had admired the “Great Gatsby”-style estates along Long Island’s Gold Coast.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 19, 2025
And she was drawn to politicians who projected what she had admired in John Wayne: that no-nonsense, plainspoken approach to problem-solving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2025
"The most surreal moment for me was creating the Brazil football with legends Cafu and Roberto Carlos - footballers I had admired growing up - sitting in the audience watching me," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2023
Riley Tobin, a 21-year-old student at the University of Hawaii, said he had admired DeSantis from afar during the COVID-19 pandemic as he rolled back restrictions.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 17, 2023
She had admired Seer’s work and told him she would bring seeds from her own flowers.
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
