admire

[ad-mahyuh r] /ædˈmaɪər/
verb (used with object), admired, admiring.
1.
to regard with wonder, pleasure, or approval.
2.
to regard with wonder or surprise (usually used ironically or sarcastically):
I admire your audacity.
verb (used without object), admired, admiring.
3.
to feel or express admiration.
4.
Dialect. to take pleasure; like or desire:
I would admire to go.
Idioms
5.
be admiring of, Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to admire:
He's admiring of his brother's farm.
Origin
1580-90; < Latin admīrārī, equivalent to ad- ad- + mīrārī (in Medieval Latin mīrāre) to wonder at, admire
Related forms
admirer, noun
preadmire, verb (used with object), preadmired, preadmiring.
preadmirer, noun
quasi-admire, verb, quasi-admired, quasi-admiring.
unadmired, adjective
Synonyms
1. esteem, revere, venerate.
Antonyms
1. despise.
Examples from the web for admire
  • They often admire them and hold them in high esteem.
  • This ability made many scholars of bygone days admire Latin's majesty—and admire themselves for mastering it.
  • The visitor can admire at leisure the power of these men spared by the corruption of modernism.
  • As they admire a pod of whales in the distance, a stray baby whale grows curious.
  • We pause to admire the still life with scones and coffee cake oozing marionberries and glistening with white icing.
  • We always love those who admire us, and we do not always love those whom we admire.
  • Seems you either love steampunk, or hate it - but you can't help but admire this.
  • Contact people whose work you admire.
  • Before writing his report, the detective pauses to admire the Minneapolis skyline.
  • Even in these tales, however, there is much to admire and fascinate.
British Dictionary definitions for admire

admire

/ədˈmaɪə/
verb (transitive)
1.
to regard with esteem, respect, approval, or pleased surprise
2.
(archaic) to wonder at
Derived Forms
admirer, noun
admiring, adjective
admiringly, adverb
Word Origin
C16: from Latin admīrāri to wonder at, from ad- to, at + mīrāri to wonder, from mīrus wonderful
Word Origin and History for admire
v.

early 15c. (implied in admired), from Middle French admirer (Old French amirer, 14c.), or directly from Latin admirari "to wonder at" (see admiration). Related: Admiring; admiringly.