Admiration Meaning
/ˌæd.məˈɹeɪ.ʃən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA positive emotion including wonder and approbation; the regarding of another as being wonderful
nounA positive emotion combining wonder and approbation; the regarding of another as being wonderful; a feeling of respect for another's skills or attributes, as one might look on a hero or role model.
Sentence Examples
Mary gazed at George in admiration.
The painting was the object of admiration.
I am filled with admiration for your bravery.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her stunning performance at the concert earned her the ____ of the entire audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I have great ____ for anyone who can speak five languages fluently.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English admiracion, borrowed from Middle French admiration, or directly from Latin admīrātiō, from prefix ad- (“to, towards”) + mīrō (“to look at”) + -ātiō. Compare the verb admire, and US dialectal terms miration and mirate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"For in this Instance, Life most exactly resembles the Stage, since it is often the same Person who represents the Villain and the Heroe; and he who engages your Admiration To-day, will probably attract your Contempt To-Morrow."
— 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 1, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VII, pages 4-5:
"A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment."
— 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
"You only had my interest before. Now you have my admiration."
— 1932, Jules Furthman, Shanghai Express, spoken by Henry Chang (Warner Oland):
"Dr. Veraswami had a passionate admiration for the English, which a thousand snubs from Englishmen had not shaken."
— 1934 October, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter 3, in Burmese Days, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, →OCLC:
"[I]n the towns, the storekeepers hated them because they had no money to spend. There is no shorter path to a storekeeper’s contempt, and all his admirations are exactly opposite. The town men, little bankers, hated Okies because there was nothing to gain from them."
— 1939 April 14, John Steinbeck, chapter 19, in The Grapes of Wrath, New York, N.Y.: The Viking Press, →OCLC, page 242:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her stunning performance at the concert earned her the ____ of the entire audience.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I have great ____ for anyone who can speak five languages fluently.