Admiration is a feeling of respect and pleasure evoked by someone or something impressive. It involves recognizing admirable qualities and feeling warmed or inspired by them. The term often implies a respectful, positive appraisal, sometimes mingled with affection or awe, and is used in both personal and evaluative contexts.
"Her admiration for the scientist grew after she learned about his breakthroughs."
"The crowd watched in quiet admiration as the dancer finished her routine."
"She spoke with admiration about the charity’s impact on the community."
"Admiration can motivate us to strive for better versions of ourselves."
Admiration comes from the Middle English admiration, from Old French admiration, from Latin admiratio, from admirari “to wonder at, admire.” The root admir- derives from ad- “toward” + mirari “to marvel, wonder at,” conveying the sense of turning toward something remarkable. Over time, the word broadened from a literal sense of marveling at a thing or person to a more general feeling of respect or warm approval. In early usage, admiration often carried an element of flattery or reverence, particularly in courtly or literary contexts. By the 16th-17th centuries, it also began to denote a sustained regard or esteem, not merely a brief marvel. In modern English, admiration retains both the emotional tone (awe, delight) and a more evaluated sense (positive regard for admirable traits or achievements). First known uses in English literature appear in the 14th- to 15th-century records, with gradual proliferation in both everyday speech and formal prose through the Renaissance and into contemporary usage, where it frequently appears in discussions of character, achievement, or beauty.
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Words that rhyme with "Admiration"
-ion sounds
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Pronounce as ad-MI-ra-tion, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: ədˌmɪˈreɪʃən. Start with a schwa, then a quick 'd' sound, a short 'i' as in 'kit', emphasize the 'ray' portion in -reɪ-, and finish with a light 'shən' (schwa + n). Keep the lips relaxed on the 'ə' and round slightly for the 'reɪ' vowel. Audio resources can help you hear the exact timing of the stressed syllable.”,
Common errors: rushing the second syllable so ad-MI-? becomes ad-MI-; mispronouncing the central vowel as a full 'a' like in 'cat' rather than the short 'ɪ' in -mɪ-; skipping or softening the final -tion into -shn or -tion without the schwa. Correction: keep the middle vowel as ɪ, place primary stress on ˈreɪ, and end with a clear, light n with a reduced -ən. Practice slowly focusing on the transition between -mɪ- and -ˈreɪ-; repeat with a tap or light pause before the final -ən.”,
US/UK/AU pronunciation share /ədˌmɪˈreɪʃən/, but rhoticity affects preceding r: US and AU often pronounce the r as an /ɹ/ in the stressed syllable cluster before vowel, while non-rhotic UK varieties may de-emphasize r after a consonant. The -ɜː/ vs -eɪ- quality may vary slightly; in some UK speech, the /ɪ/ in mɪ is lighter and the final -ən is more syllabic. Overall, the main differences lie in vowel length, r-fulness, and the smoothness of the transition between -mɪ- and -ˈreɪ-.”,
The difficulty centers on the multi-syllabic rhythm and the placement of primary stress on the second syllable: ad-MI-ra-tion. The middle vowel /ɪ/ is quick and can blur into a schwa in fast speech, while the sequence /ˈreɪ/ requires careful mouth shaping to avoid merging with the surrounding sounds. Additionally, the final -tion often reduces to -ʃən or -ən, which native speakers sometimes omit or mispronounce. Practicing the two transitions—mɪ to reɪ, and reɪ to ʃən—helps stabilize the word.”,
Admiration uniquely places the main emphasis on the /ˈreɪ/ portion within a four-syllable flow, making it a classic example of a two-beat stress pattern in longer words. The preceding /ə/ at the start is unstressed, and the ending /ən/ is light. Understanding this helps with rhythm training: you’ll hear a slight secondary lift on -mɪ- in careful diction, but it's not as strong as the primary stress on -ˈreɪ-.
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