admire

ad·mire

verb \əd-ˈmī(-ə)r\

ad·miredad·mir·ing

Definition of ADMIRE

transitive verb

1

: to regard with admiration

2

archaic : to marvel at

intransitive verb

dialect : to like very much <I would admire to know why not — A. H. Lewis>

— ad·mir·er noun

— ad·mir·ing·ly \-ˈmī-riŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of ADMIRE

1. We gazed out the window and admired the scenery.
2. <I admire the way you handled such a touchy situation.>

Origin of ADMIRE

Middle French admirer, to marvel at, from Latin admirari, from ad- + mirari to wonder, from mirus astonishing

First Known Use: 1566

Related to ADMIRE

Synonyms

appreciate, consider, esteem, regard, respect, set store by (or on)

Related Words

acclaim, accredit, applaud, approve, commend, compliment, credit, praise; delight (in), drink (in), enjoy, relish, revel (in), savor (also savour); dig, fancy, favor, groove (on), like, love; adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hallow, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship; cherish, love, prize, treasure, value

Near Antonyms

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe; condemn, decry, deplore, disapprove, discount, discountenance, disdain, disfavor, dislike, dismiss, disregard, frown (on or upon), kiss off, scorn, vilify

See Synonym Discussion at regard

Rhymes with ADMIRE

attire, backfire, bemire, catch fire, cross fire, denier, desire, entire, for hire, fox fire, Greek fire, grey friar, hang fire, hellfire, live wire, on fire, prior, rimfire, sapphire, sea fire, snow tire, town crier, trip wire, umpire, watch fire, white friar