admire
gb/ædmˈaɪɚ/ us/ædmˈaɪɚ/
A2
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Look at with respect
To think someone or something is very good, special, or worth respecting.
Usage pattern:
to admire [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'admire' with 'like', but 'admire' includes respect and often inspiration, not just enjoyment.
Synonyms
respect (More general and formal; does not always imply warm feelings.)
|
appreciate (Emphasizes recognizing value rather than emotional warmth.)
Antonyms
disrespect (Shows a lack of respect or regard for someone or something.)
|
despise (Strongly dislike and have no respect for.)
Collocations
greatly admire
|deeply admire
|really admire
|admire greatly
|admire the way
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I really admire her dedication to helping others.
- Many people admire him for his honesty.
- They admired the teacher’s patience with the students.
- I admire the way you handle difficult situations.
- We all admire her courage.
Learner examples
- I admire my father.
- She admires her teacher.
- They admire the singer.
- I admire his work.
- We admire our friends.
Verb
A2
action
2
Look at with pleasure
To look at something and think it is beautiful or nice.
Usage pattern:
to admire [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'watch' or 'see', but 'admire' suggests positive feelings about what is seen.
Synonyms
appreciate (Focuses more on recognizing quality or beauty.)
|
gaze at (Focuses on the act of looking rather than feelings of approval.)
Antonyms
ignore (Choose not to look at or pay attention to.)
Collocations
admire the view
|admire the beauty
|admire the painting
|stop to admire
|admire from afar
Themes
emotions
|art
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We stopped to admire the sunset.
- He admired the painting for several minutes.
- Tourists admired the old castle.
- She admired the flowers in the garden.
- They admired the craftsmanship of the furniture.
Learner examples
- I admire the big tree.
- She admires the picture.
- We admire the mountains.
- They admire the new car.
- He admires the sky.
Grammar
Dictionary form
admire
IPA
GB/ædmˈaɪɚ/
US/ædmˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
ad - mire (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mire)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: admire
- 3rd Person Singular: admires
- Present Participle: admiring
- Past: admired
Word family
Forms
admires
verb
admiring
verb
admired
verb
Core family
Related words
admirably
adverb
Advanced or less common
admiringly
adverb B2
Expressions
admire from afar
1/ædmˈaɪɚ fɹˈʌm əfˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
Respect without close contact
To like or respect someone without talking to them or getting close to them.
Examples
- He had admired her from afar for years before finally speaking to her.
- Fans often admire celebrities from afar.
stand back and admire
1/stˈænd bˈæk ˈænd ædmˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
informal
Pause to appreciate your work
To stop and look at something you made or did, feeling proud of it.
Examples
- After finishing the painting, she stood back and admired her work.
- They stood back and admired the garden they had planted.