admire

verb

ad·mire | \əd-ˈmī(-ə)r

admired; admiring

Definition of admire

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

Other Words from admire Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about admire

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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

And that's because left, right and center, Judge Kavanaugh is so easy to respect and admire. — Fox News, "Leonard Leo on why Trump appointed Judge Kavanaugh," 10 July 2018 As the scientific community rose up in fury against Lander for his admiring remarks to Watson at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, no scientist was as unrelenting as Eisen. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, "He takes on Eric Lander, and the scientific establishment. ‘This is who I am. I get angry.’," 16 May 2018 How that particular shot differed from the drive that preceded it or the one that came next was a distinction largely lost on an admiring audience. — Tim Sullivan, The Courier-Journal, "24-year-old Justin Thomas putting probability to the test | Tim Sullivan," 20 Apr. 2018 For all of us who knew him, admired him and felt a deep affection toward him. — Mark Thiessen, Anchorage Daily News, "Valdez honors Alaska Guardsmen killed in plane crash after 1964 earthquake," 23 June 2018 However, plenty admire him for protecting them from the Gulenists. — The Economist, "After decades of triumph, democracy is losing ground," 14 June 2018 Ruddy, a Kavanaugh booster, told to the president that the judge was admired by Ed Meese, who served as Ronald Reagan's attorney general, as a genuine conservative. — Author: Ashley Parker, Robert Costa, Anchorage Daily News, "‘All a little misdirection’: Inside Trump’s sometimes-wavering decision to nominate Kavanaugh," 11 July 2018 Ruddy, a Kavanaugh booster, told to the president that the judge was admired by Ed Meese, who served as Ronald Reagan's attorney general, as a genuine conservative. — Ashley Parker And Robert Costa, chicagotribune.com, "Inside Trump's sometimes wavering decision on Brett Kavanaugh," 11 July 2018 He was admired by many and had a special admiration for Father Thomas Campion and Coach Dee Rowe. — courant.com, "Martin B. Courneen," 8 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'admire.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for admire

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.

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