admire Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb feel admiration for
    look up to.
  2. verb look at with admiration

WordNet

Ad*mire" transitive verb
Etymology
F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for smirari, akin to Gr. to smile, Skr. smi, and E. smile.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Admired present participle & verbal noun Admiring
Definitions
  1. To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to marvel at. Archaic
    Examples rather to be admired than imitated. Fuller.
  2. To regard with wonder and delight; to look upon with an elevated feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation, esteem, love, or reverence; to estimate or prize highly; as, to admire a person of high moral worth, to admire a landscape.
    Admired as heroes and as gods obeyed. Pope.
    ✍ Admire followed by the infinitive is obsolete or colloquial; as, I admire to see a man consistent in his conduct. Syn. -- To esteem; approve; delight in.
Ad*mire" intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To wonder; to marvel; to be affected with surprise; -- sometimes with at.
    To wonder at Pharaoh, and even admire at myself. Fuller.

Webster 1913