adoration
Americannoun
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the act of paying honor, as to a divine being; worship.
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reverent homage.
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fervent and devoted love.
noun
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deep love or esteem
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the act of worshipping
Etymology
Origin of adoration
1535–45; < Latin adōrātiōn- (stem of adōrātiō ) worship. See adore, -ation
Explanation
Adoration is a feeling of deep love. Some people may say animals don't have emotions, but you know from the adoration in your dog's eyes that it's just not true. The noun adoration comes from the Latin word adorationem, which means "worship," particularly in a religious way. Adoration is still used today in a religious context, in phrases like "the adoration of God." If you adore or deeply love someone, you can describe that feeling as adoration. It's the kind of feeling Romeo had for Juliet, devoted fans have for a pop star, and you have for your beloved cat.
Vocabulary lists containing adoration
Dubliners
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"The Picture of Dorian Gray," Vocabulary from Chapters 5-8
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Camp Panda
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He bathed in adoration at the championship rally, and he told the fans he would be one of them this year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
Ms. MacDonald’s love for the company—the book ends with a ranking of her 50 favorite Nintendo games—can veer toward blinkered adoration.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
The sapphic adoration for Hudson Williams is rooted in a deeper desire for romantic queer representation.
From Salon • Feb. 13, 2026
A pumped-up Volkanovski, a former rugby league player, basked in the adoration of the febrile 20,000-person crowd at Qudos Bank Arena in his first world title defence on Australian soil.
From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026
Hated him sometimes right in the middle of his obvious adoration of her, his frequent compliments about her looks, her manners, her voice.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
