What does admiration mean?
Admiration is a noun describing a feeling of respect, approval, and often delight directed toward a person, achievement, work of art, or quality. It sits comfortably between mere liking and outright reverence: one may admire a colleague's integrity, an athlete's skill, or a building's architecture without necessarily loving any of them. The word is used in both formal and everyday English, typically appearing in phrases such as 'with admiration', 'in admiration of', or 'to earn someone's admiration'. Its connotations are almost entirely positive, though the ironic expression 'mutual admiration society' can suggest self-congratulation. Derived from the Latin verb admirari, meaning 'to wonder at', admiration retains a trace of that older sense of wonder — we still speak of gazing at something in admiration. It is a useful word precisely because it names a common, nuanced emotion: appreciation blended with esteem, the quiet recognition that something or someone is genuinely worthy of regard.
A feeling of respect, approval, and pleased wonder toward someone or something.
"The audience listened in admiration as the young violinist played."
Often used with the prepositions 'for' (admiration for someone) and 'of' (in admiration of something).
The act of observing or considering someone or something with pleasure or wonder.
"She paused in admiration of the sunset over the bay."
Rarely used; 'admiration' is nearly always treated as an uncountable mass noun, though a plural form exists in literary use for multiple instances of admiring feeling.
"His letters are filled with admirations for his mentors."
The word 'admiration' once carried a hint of astonishment — from Latin 'admirari', literally 'to wonder at', it originally meant marveling at something before it settled into today's sense of respectful approval.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admiration
Admiration entered English in the early 15th century via French, ultimately deriving from the Latin verb admirari, formed from ad- ('toward') plus mirari ('to wonder at'), the same root that gives us 'mirror', 'miracle', and 'marvel'. In its earliest English uses, admiration carried a strong sense of wonder or astonishment rather than simple approval — Shakespeare could use it to mean amazement. Over time the sense narrowed and softened to its modern meaning of respectful, pleased regard, while the cognate verb 'admire' followed the same path from 'to be astonished at' to 'to regard with esteem'.
Related word forms
How admiration is actually used
A positive, largely neutral-register word appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It often appears in the phrases 'with admiration' and 'in admiration of'. The related idiom 'mutual admiration society' is sometimes used ironically to describe a group whose members excessively praise one another.
Easily confused with admiration
Adoration is a much stronger feeling of deep love or worship, whereas admiration is a feeling of respect and approval that need not involve love.