← Dictionary

admiration

/ˌæd.mɪˈreɪ.ʃən/
IELTSAcademic
noun

Admiration is a feeling of respect and pleasure for someone or something good, beautiful, or impressive. It can also mean praise that shows this feeling.

  • She looked at the painting with admiration.
  • I have great admiration for her work.
  • The team earned the crowd's admiration.

Adinary Nuance

Admiration is stronger and more respectful than simple liking. It is often used when someone or something seems impressive, skillful, or worthy of praise. Compared with respect, admiration usually includes more positive feeling and pleasure. Compared with praise, admiration is the feeling itself, while praise is what you say.

In other languages

Vietnamese
sự ngưỡng mộ
Spanish
admiración
Chinese
钦佩
Japanese
称賛
Korean
존경

Etymology

Admiration comes from Latin admiratio, from admirari, meaning 'to wonder at' or 'to look at with surprise'. It entered English through Old French in the Middle Ages.

Common phrases

deep admirationgreat admirationadmiration fora feeling of admiration

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is admiration a strong feeling?
Yes. It usually means a clear, positive feeling of respect and pleasure.
What is the difference between admiration and respect?
Respect can be more neutral. Admiration is warmer and more positive.
Can I use admiration in academic writing?
Yes. It is common in formal writing, reports, and essays.