Meaning & use
adoration
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Meanings
noununcountable
A feeling of very deep love and admiration for someone or something.
Grammar: No plural; often followed by for or of: adoration for her teacher.
Patterns
- adoration for someone
- gaze at someone in adoration
The children looked at the magician with open adoration.
His adoration for his grandmother showed in everything he did.
She received the adoration of fans wherever she went.
noununcountablereligion
The act of worshiping a god or sacred figure with reverence.
Grammar: Used in religious settings: the adoration of the saints.
Patterns
- adoration of someone
The painting shows the adoration of the shepherds.
They knelt in silent adoration before the altar.
Common combinations
- look with adoration
- The puppy looked at its owner with adoration.
- deep adoration
- He felt a deep adoration for his mentor.
- shower with adoration
- Fans showered the band with adoration.
- adoration of
- The adoration of the crowd overwhelmed her.
- object of adoration
- The young actor became an object of adoration.
Synonyms and how they differ
- devotion
- Devotion stresses loyal commitment over time, while adoration emphasizes intense admiration.
- worship
- Worship is stronger and used for religion or extreme idolizing, so it is harsher than adoration.
- admiration
- Admiration is a milder respect for someone's qualities, with less emotion than adoration.
- idolization
- Idolization suggests seeing someone as perfect, which can be unrealistic and slightly critical.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: adoration or adaptation?
adoration vs adaptation
Adaptation is a change made to suit new conditions, and has no link to adoration despite the similar start.
Practice
She looked at her newborn daughter with complete ___.
Choose one answer.
Adoration names the deep love shown in her look. Adaptation, adjustment and admission do not describe a feeling of love.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “adoration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.