adore
B2formal/informal (polite emphasis in informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
to love and admire someone or something deeply
to like something very much; to worship or venerate; to regard with the utmost respect and affection
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Adore" expresses stronger emotion than "like" or "love" in many contexts, often implying reverence or idealization. It can be hyperbolic in casual use ("I adore that film").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though British English may use it slightly more often in hyperbolic informal contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/polite in American English when referring to people; equally common in both for objects/activities.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, with minor corpus variation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
adore + NP (noun phrase)adore + V-ing (gerund)adore + the fact that + clauseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “adore the ground someone walks on”
- “adore someone from afar”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; occasionally in branding/marketing ("Customers adore our new design").
Academic
Rare; may appear in literary or cultural studies discussing admiration.
Everyday
Common for expressing strong liking/love for people, pets, food, activities.
Technical
Not used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She absolutely adores her grandchildren.
- I simply adore the way he plays the piano.
- They adored visiting the seaside as children.
American English
- He absolutely adores his new truck.
- We simply adore the fall colors here.
- She adored working on the project.
adverb
British English
- She gazed at him adoringly.
American English
- The puppy followed its owner adoringly.
adjective
British English
- She gave him an adoring look.
American English
- The adoring fans waited outside the stadium.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I adore my cat.
- She adores chocolate.
- They adore their teacher.
- We adore spending weekends in the countryside.
- He adores his new bike.
- Many children adore superhero films.
- I absolutely adore the way she handles difficult situations.
- They have adored each other since university.
- Critics adore the director's latest work.
- She was adored by the entire community for her charity work.
- One cannot but adore the intricate craftsmanship of the piece.
- He adored her not for her beauty, but for her wit and compassion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ADORE = A DOSE Of REverent Emotion.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOVE IS WORSHIP (to adore is to place on a pedestal).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with "обожать", which can be more casual/hyperbolic. "Adore" often carries deeper reverence.
- Do not use for mild liking; stronger than "нравиться".
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: "I am adoring this song" (rarely used in progressive). Correct: "I adore this song."
- Overuse in formal writing where "greatly admire" may be better.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'adore' used LEAST appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarely. As a stative verb expressing emotion, it is typically used in simple tenses ("I adore"), not progressive ("I am adoring").
"Adore" often implies worshipful, deep admiration or idealization, sometimes stronger/more reverent than "love." In casual use, it can be hyperbolic for "like very much."
It spans registers. It can be formal (reverence) or informal (strong liking). Context and tone determine its register.
It can be used for people, animals, objects, activities, and abstract concepts (e.g., "I adore the idea," "She adores skiing").