admire

verb

ad·​mire əd-ˈmī(-ə)r 

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

Synonyms

• appreciate
• consider
• esteem
• regard
• respect

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

Our larger-than-life canvases, strategically placed in key neighborhoods and iconic locations, cement a brand’s presence and power while also serving as their own destinations for fans to visit and admire. —Fairchild Studio, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024

Pink Gets Emotional as Daughter Willow, 12, Leaves Mom's Tour to 'Follow Her Dreams' of Theater: 'Beyond Proud' In one sweet video, Jameson admires the large pack of stormtroopers while wearing an orange tee, basketball shorts and Nike sneakers. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Putin is admired for his macho and brutal toughness, but Orban is the domestic role model. —Trudy Rubin, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024

Robert's post cautioning about the style sparked a mixed response online, with some admiring her new look, while others shared similar regrets. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

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

Kids Definition

admire

verb

ad·​mire əd-ˈmī(ə)r 

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