Word
admire
Phoneticsad·mire, stress on the second syllable
US/ædˈmaɪɹ/
UK/ɐdmˈaɪə/
Definitions
01to respect someone
B1 · Intermediate
v. to respect or like someone because of their qualities or what they have achieved.
v. to regard a person or their actions with high esteem, approbation, or respect.
“I really admire my sister for how hard she works to support her family.”
“Historians generally admire the diplomat's ability to maintain peace during such a volatile period of international relations.”
02to look at with pleasure
B1 · Intermediate
v. to look at something and think that it is very attractive or impressive.
v. to gaze upon something with aesthetic pleasure or wonder.
“We stopped for a moment to admire the beautiful view from the top of the hill.”
“The tourists stood in silence to admire the intricate carvings on the cathedral's ancient stone doors.”
Synonyms
03to want to do something
C2 · Proficiency American English · Dialect
v. to be very happy or excited to do something.
v. to be enthusiastic about or to desire to perform an action; often followed by an infinitive.
“I would admire to go with you if you have an extra seat in the car.”
“In certain regional dialects, a speaker might say they would admire to meet the author after the lecture.”
Usage
Often used with the infinitive 'to' (e.g., 'I'd admire to see it').
Teaching tip
This usage is very rare and restricted to specific rural areas in the United States; learners should avoid using it in standard or professional contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “admire” in context.
Verb
01. admire for
“Many people admire him for his dedication to environmental causes.”
verb + prep
02. admire from afar
“She was content to admire the famous actor from afar.”
verb + prep + adv
03. learn to admire
“Over time, I learned to admire his honesty, even when it was blunt.”
verb + inf
04. stop to admire
“We stopped to admire the stunning view from the top of the cliff.”
verb + inf
Adjective
05. deeply admire
“They deeply admire the courage shown by the local community leaders.”
adv + verb
06. greatly admire
“I greatly admire the way she handles difficult situations with such grace.”
adv + verb
07. secretly admire
“He secretly admired his rival's determination and work ethic.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. admire courage
“You have to admire her courage for speaking out against the decision.”
verb + noun
09. admire view
“We sat on the balcony for an hour just to admire the view.”
verb + noun
10. admire someone's tenacity
“You must admire his tenacity in refusing to give up on the project.”
11. have much to admire
“Although the film is long, it has much to admire in terms of cinematography.”
12. pause to admire the scenery
“The hikers paused to admire the scenery before continuing their climb.”
Etymology
From Middle English admyren, borrowed from Middle French admirer, from Latin admīror, from ad + mīror (“wonder at”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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