adorable

adjective

ador·​able ə-ˈdȯr-ə-bəl 

1

: extremely charming or appealing

an adorable child

an adorable cottage

2

: worthy of adoration or veneration

adorability

ə-ˌdȯr-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

adorableness

ə-ˈdȯr-ə-bəl-nəs 

noun

adorably

ə-ˈdȯr-ə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• darling
• dear
• disarming
• endearing
• lovable
• loveable
• lovesome
• precious
• sweet
• winning
• winsome

Examples of adorable in a Sentence

They live in an adorable little cottage.

what an adorable old lady, so kind and sweet

Recent Examples on the Web

The video captured a toddler's adorable and unexpected reaction to finding his older sister upset. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

Backstage, the 31-year-old posed with an adorable black lab wearing a festive Santa hat. —Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024

The Best Towns For Antique Shopping In Every Southern State 01 of 10 Micanopy South of Gainesville, the tiny town of Micanopy encompasses just over one square mile, yet has an adorable downtown brimming with 19th-century buildings and immense oak trees. —Linnea Bailey, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2024

Later, after seeing how much fulfillment Iceland, the gentle giant renting her parents’ house, gets out of his relationship with his dog, Sam decides to pour all of her longing for connection into adopting Pepper, an adorable Pomeranian at the local shelter, but someone else gets there first. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "worthy of veneration," going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin adōrābilis, from adōrāre "to venerate, adore" + -bilis "capable (of acting or being acted upon)" — more at -able

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

adorable

adjective

ador·​able ə-ˈdōr-ə-bəl 

-ˈdȯr-

1

: deserving to be adored

2

: charming, lovely

an adorable child

adorableness noun

adorably

-blē 

adverb