admire

verb

ad·​mire əd-ˈmī(-ə)r How to pronounce admire (audio)
admired; admiring

transitive verb

1
: to feel respect and approval for (someone or something) : to regard with admiration
They all admired her courage.
2
archaic : to marvel at

intransitive verb

dialect : to like very much
… I would admire to know why not …A. H. Lewis
admirer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for admire

regard, respect, esteem, admire mean to recognize the worth of a person or thing.

regard is a general term that is usually qualified.

he is highly regarded in the profession

respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation.

after many years they came to respect her views

esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation.

no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed

admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection.

a friend that I truly admire

Examples of admire in a Sentence

We gazed out the window and admired the scenery. I admire the way you handled such a touchy situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Newcastle admire the players mentioned above, but the expectation inside the club is that, unless a significant exit occurs, any mid-season arrival is likely to be a younger profile of player, with a lower salary, rather than a marquee name. Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024 From familiar faces fans will remember from the first season to the new contestants looking to tempt fate in the games, celebrate the musical genius of the Squid Game Season 2 cast while admiring the intense acting needed for such a show. Jeff Benjamin, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Holiday cheer:Best places to admire some awesome Christmas lights in Greater Akron 🎄✨ Other Greater Akron lights to see The Beacon Journal also highlights Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, the historic home of Goodyear Tire & Rubber co-founder F.A. Seiberling. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 24 Dec. 2024 Here, admire the majesty of the 2,385-foot-tall Mount Otemanu in the distance and the Technicolor marine life in the ocean below (swimming among the parrotfish, butterfly fish, and puffers). Paul Rubio, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for admire 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French admirer, Latinization of amirer "to make (little or much) of," borrowed from Latin admīrārī, ammīrārī "to regard with wonder, show esteem for," from ad- ad- + mīrārī "to be surprised, look with wonder at," derivative of mīrus, "remarkable, amazing," of uncertain origin

Note: Regarding etymology of Latin mīrus see note at smile entry 1.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of admire was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near admire

Cite this Entry

“Admire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/admire. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

admire

verb
ad·​mire əd-ˈmī(ə)r How to pronounce admire (audio)
admired; admiring
1
: to look at with admiration
admire the scenery
2
: to have high regard for
admired her courage
admirer
-ˈmīr-ər
noun
Etymology

from early French admirer "to marvel at," from Latin admirari (same meaning), from ad- "at" and mirari "to wonder" — related to miracle

More from Merriam-Webster on admire

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