adore

verb

ə-ˈdȯr 

adored; adoring

transitive verb

1

: to worship or honor as a deity or as divine

2

: to regard with loving admiration and devotion

He adored his wife.

3

: to be very fond of

adores pecan pie

adorer noun

Synonyms

• cherish
• love
• worship

Choose the Right Synonym for adore

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully.

revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

reverenced the academy's code of honor

venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

Examples of adore in a Sentence

He's a good doctor. All his patients adore him.

They adored shopping in all the boutiques.

Recent Examples on the Web

Customers are going to adore the quick release bracelet system, which allows instant swapping between solid gold, rubber and fabric options. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 27 Apr. 2024

The Tortured Poets Department is extreme in its emotions and uninterested in traditional hits; not everyone will love it, but the ones who get it will adore it fiercely. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024

Spitz, who lived with his wife, Anne, also is survived by another son, Jonathan, and a daughter, Rhona, as well as 10 grandchildren, who, the family added, the doctor adored and loved to spend time with — especially in the last years of his life. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2024

Diagnosed with what appears to be late-stage cancer (his illness is never specified), John is working with an adoption agency to find a new home for Michael (Daniel Lamont), the adoring 4-year-old son whose entire world revolves around his dad. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2024

Bomer and DeKay make for a charming pair, and each comes with a best friend who adds to the fun; Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) is Peter’s wife who adores Neal, and Mozzie (the late, great Willie Garson) is Neal’s criminal buddy who loathes law enforcement. —Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2024

The balcony is where members of the family gather during certain special events and where newly married royals have waved to their adoring fans below. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Apr. 2024

Par 3 Contest First held in 1960, this tradition is perhaps the tournament's most adored. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2024

The trailer also captures Jackson as he’s stalked by adoring crowds and paparazzi. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English aouren, adouren, borrowed from Anglo-French aurer, ahourer, adourer (with d restored from Latin), going back to Latin adōrāre "to plead with, appeal to, approach (a god) as a suppliant or worshipper, treat with reverence, admire," from ad- ad- + ōrāre "to pray to, beseech" — more at oration

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

adore

verb

ə-ˈdō(ə)r 

-ˈdȯ(ə)r

adored; adoring

1

: worship entry 2 sense 1

adore God

2

: to be very fond of

adoration

ˌad-ə-ˈrā-shən

noun

adorer

ə-ˈdōr-ər

-ˈdȯr-

noun

Etymology

from early French adourer "to adore," from Latin adorare (same meaning), from ad- "to" and orare "to speak, pray" — related to oracle, oration