admiration

admiration — noun

1. a warm feeling of respect, approval, or pleasure that you have when you think so

1.nounB2
Definition

a warm feeling of respect, approval, or pleasure that you have when you think someone or something is very good — for example, the way you feel about a brave firefighter, a beautiful painting, or a friend who handles hard times well.

Example

Tariq looked at the old painting with deep admiration for the artist's skill.

admiration for + noun phrase

The young dancers stood in silent admiration as the ballet master finished his solo.

in (silent) admiration — adverbial use

Common collocations
  • express admiration for
  • win/earn someone's admiration
  • filled with admiration
  • look in admiration
  • deep / genuine / mutual admiration
Synonyms
  • respect

    broader and cooler — focuses on recognising worth, with less of the warm, pleased feeling that 'admiration' carries

  • regard

    more formal, often appears in fixed phrases like 'high regard'; lacks the emotional warmth of 'admiration'

  • appreciation

    centres on noticing and valuing something, often with gratitude; 'admiration' is more about being impressed

Antonyms
  • contempt

    strong feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath you

  • scorn

    open mockery or disdain, stronger and more public than simple dislike

Grammar Patterns

admiration for someone/something

in admiration

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable; do not say 'an admiration' or 'admirations'. Followed by 'for' to name the person or thing being admired, never by 'to' or 'about'.

Common Mistakes

I have an admiration for my mother.
I have great admiration for my mother.
'admiration' is uncountable, so use no article or a quantifier like 'great' / 'deep'.
She felt admiration to her coach.
She felt admiration for her coach.
the fixed preposition is 'for', not 'to' or 'about'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a positive view of someone or something, but they differ in warmth and focus. 'Admiration' is the most emotional — you feel pleased and slightly impressed, almost wanting to copy what the person did. 'Respect' is cooler and more about acknowledging worth or status; you can respect a rival you do not personally like. 'Regard' sounds formal and is most often seen in fixed phrases such as 'hold someone in high regard', often in writing or speeches. 'Appreciation' shifts the focus to noticing value, frequently mixed with gratitude — you appreciate a friend's help. So you might 'respect' a strict coach, 'appreciate' a friend's patience, but feel real 'admiration' watching a stranger jump into a river to save a child.

admiration ↗respect ↗regard ↗appreciation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • fill someone with admiration
  • be lost in admiration
  • have nothing but admiration for
  • mutual admiration society

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle FrenchEnglish

Reaches English in the late 1500s from French 'admiration', built on Latin 'admiratio', from the verb 'admirari' — formed from 'ad-' (at, towards) plus 'mirari' (to wonder at). The same Latin root gave English 'miracle' and 'mirror'. Early English use kept some of the older sense of surprise or wonder, but over the centuries the meaning narrowed to today's warm respect and approval.