admire
I admire her dedication to helping others.
The speaker expresses respect for someone's consistent effort to assist others.
To regard with respect or warm approval.
Many people admire Nelson Mandela for his leadership.
The sentence highlights how Mandela is respected for his leadership qualities.
She admired the artist's ability to capture emotions in paintings.
The speaker praises the artist's skill in conveying feelings through art.
Used for people, qualities, or achievements, not objects or actions.
Collocations
Pro Tip
Use with 'for' for specific qualities
When expressing admiration for a specific trait or action, use 'admire someone for [quality/action]'. Example: 'I admire her for her patience.'
Gold Rule
Respect vs. Admire
Admire is stronger than respect and implies a sense of approval or warmth. You can respect someone's authority but admire their character.
Word Origin
From Old French 'admirer' (to wonder at), from Latin 'admirari' (to wonder at), from 'ad-' (to) + 'mirari' (to wonder).
Usage Notes
Admire implies a positive emotional response to qualities or actions, often with a sense of approval or esteem. It is not used for objects (e.g., 'I admire this car' is incorrect; use 'I like this car').