What does admire mean?
To admire is to regard a person, quality, achievement, or object with respect, pleasure, or warm approval. It is an exclusively positive verb: one admires courage, craftsmanship, talent, or beauty, and the feeling may be expressed openly or held quietly. The word takes a direct object — you admire someone or something — and it often appears in phrases such as 'highly admire' or 'admire from afar', the latter describing affection or respect felt at a distance without direct contact. Beyond its core sense of respectful approval, admire can also mean simply to look at something with enjoyment, as when visitors admire a painting or a view. Derived forms such as admiration, admirer, admirable, and admiringly extend the word across noun, adjective, and adverb uses. Its Latin root, mirari, meaning 'to wonder at', connects it to words like miracle and marvel, reminding us that admiration begins in wonder.
verbTo regard someone or something with respect, pleasure, or warm approval; to feel or express admiration for a person, their qualities, or their achievements.
- To regard with respect, approval, or pleased appreciation (a person, quality, achievement, or thing).
- To look at something with pleasure or wonder; to gaze at appreciatively.
"I have always admired her ability to stay calm under pressure."
"Millions admired Nelson Mandela for his forgiveness after decades in prison."
"She stood at the gallery window, admiring the city skyline at dusk."
Admire and 'mirror' come from the same Latin root — to admire something was originally to wonder at it, as if seeing a marvel reflected before you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admire
Admire comes from the Latin admirari, meaning 'to wonder at', formed from ad- ('at, toward') plus mirari ('to wonder'), itself related to mirus ('wonderful'). The word entered English via French admirer in the late 16th century, initially carrying the sense of wonder or astonishment before settling into its modern meaning of respectful approval. It shares this root with miracle, marvel, mirror, and admirable.
Related word forms
How admire is actually used
Admire is a transitive verb and is always positive in connotation. It is common in both formal and everyday registers. In British English it can also mean simply to look at something with pleasure ('we admired the view'), a sense less frequently used in American English.
Easily confused with admire
An admiral is a high-ranking naval officer, while admire is a verb meaning to regard with respect or approval — the two words share Latin roots but have entirely different meanings.