Admire
/ədˈmaɪər/
verbB1
Definition
To admire someone or something means to feel respect and pleasure when you see or think about them. It can be about a person's qualities, skills, or appearance, or about things like art, nature, or achievements. Admiring is more than just liking; it includes a feeling of respect or wonder.
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⚡ See It in Action
To look at someone or something with respect and pleasure
- •I admire her for her hard work and kindness.
- •Tourists admire the beautiful buildings in the old city.
- •He stood silently, admiring the sunset over the ocean.
To respect or approve of someone's qualities or achievements
- •Many people admire scientists for their discoveries.
- •I admire how patient and calm she is in difficult situations.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "admire" like "like," but stronger because you also respect or are impressed by what you see or know.
- ✓Picture standing in front of a beautiful painting or a tall mountain and feeling amazed and happy.
- ✓It's the warm feeling when you see someone doing something very well or showing kindness.
- ✓Sounds like "add-MY-er" → imagine adding your eyes to look closely and appreciate something special.
- ✓Think of a child admiring a superhero or an artist admiring their favorite painting.
- ✓NOT like "look" (just seeing something), "admire" means you enjoy and respect what you see.
- ✓NOT like "envy" (wanting what someone has), "admire" is positive and does not include jealousy.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Respect: to feel deep admiration for someone's qualities or achievements (Use when focusing more on honor and high opinion)
- •Appreciate: to recognize the value or beauty of something (Use when focusing on understanding or valuing something)
- •Praise: to say good things about someone or something (Use when you want to talk about telling others about what you admire)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "ad-" (to, toward) + root "mire" (from Latin "mirari," meaning to wonder or be amazed)
- •Etymology: From Latin "admirari," meaning to wonder at or regard with amazement
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 1400s with the meaning of feeling wonder or respect
- •Modern usage: Used to express respect and pleasure when looking at or thinking about someone or something impressive or beautiful
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of people or things do you admire most in your life, and why?
•How can admiring others help us improve ourselves or feel happier?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.People often admire someone who ___ a difficult challenge with courage and success.
2.When you admire a painting, you usually ___ its colors, shapes, or meaning carefully.
3.Unlike jealousy, to admire someone means you feel ___ about their qualities.
4.She admired ___ the way her teacher explained difficult ideas clearly and kindly.
5.We often admire nature because it can be ___ and full of surprises.
6.When you admire a person, you usually want to ___ some of their good qualities.
7.Tourists admire the city ___ its old buildings and beautiful streets.