Definition of adore verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adore

verb

/əˈdɔː(r)/

/əˈdɔːr/

not used in the progressive tenses

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they adore	/əˈdɔː(r)/ /əˈdɔːr/
he / she / it adores	/əˈdɔːz/ /əˈdɔːrz/
past simple adored	/əˈdɔːd/ /əˈdɔːrd/
past participle adored	/əˈdɔːd/ /əˈdɔːrd/
-ing form adoring	/əˈdɔːrɪŋ/ /əˈdɔːrɪŋ/

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adore somebody to love somebody very much
- It's obvious that she adores him.
Synonyms love
lovelike ▪ be fond of somebody ▪ adore ▪ be devoted to somebody ▪ care for somebody ▪ dote on somebodyThese words all mean to have feelings of liking or caring for somebody.
love to have strong feelings of caring for somebody:
I love you.
like to find somebody pleasant and enjoy being with them:
She’s nice. I like her.
be fond of somebody to have warm or loving feelings for somebody, especially somebody you have known for a long time:
I’ve always been very fond of your mother.
adore to love somebody very much:
It’s obvious that she adores him.
be devoted to somebody to love somebody very much and support them in everything:
They are devoted to their children.
care for somebody to love somebody, especially in a way that is based on a feeling of liking them very much or wanting to protect them, rather than sex:
He cared for her more than she realized.
Care for somebody is often used when somebody has not told anyone about their feelings or is just starting to be aware of them. It is also used when somebody wishes that somebody loved them, or doubts that somebody does: If he really cared for you, he wouldn’t behave like that. dote on somebody to feel and show great love for somebody, ignoring their faults:
He dotes on his children.
Patterns
- to really love/like/adore/care for/dote on somebody
- to be really/genuinely fond of/devoted to somebody
- to love/like/care for somebody very much
Topics Feelingsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- absolutely
- simply
- clearly
- …
See full entry
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(informal) to like something very much
- adore something I simply adore his music!
- Don’t you just adore that dress!
- adore doing something She adores working with children.
Synonyms like
likelove ▪ be fond of ▪ be keen on something ▪ adoreThese words all mean to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard, or to enjoy something.
like to find something pleasant, attractive or of a good enough standard; to enjoy something:
Do you like their new house?
I like to see them enjoying themselves.
love to like or enjoy something very much:
He loved the way she smiled.
be fond of something to like or enjoy something, especially something you have liked or enjoyed for a long time:
We were fond of the house and didn’t want to leave.
be keen on something (British English informal) (often used in negative statements) to like or enjoy something:
I’m not keen on spicy food.
She’s not keen on being told what to do.
adore (informal) to like or enjoy something very much:
She adores working with children.
love or adore?Adore is more informal than love, and is used to express a stronger feeling.Patterns
- to like/love/be fond of/be keen on/adore doing something
- to like/love to do something
- to like/love something very much
- I like/love/adore it here/there/when…
- to like/love/adore the way somebody does something
- to really like/love/adore somebody/something
- to be really fond of/keen on something
Topics Preferences and decisionsb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- absolutely
- simply
- clearly
- …
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: via Old French from Latin adorare ‘to worship’, from ad- ‘to’ + orare ‘speak, pray’.

See adore in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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Nearby words

perspective

noun

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