Admirer Meaning: The Polite Word for Someone Who Likes You Rather a Lot
An admirer is someone who thinks highly of a person or their work. The word also does duty as a discreet term for someone romantically interested in you.
An admirer is a person who admires someone — their talent, their looks, their work. English keeps the word slightly formal, which is why it survives in the phrase a secret admirer, where a blunter word would be awkward.
- Someone who respects a person or work. *A lifelong admirer of Bach.*
- Someone romantically interested. *She had a secret admirer at school.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | admirer | An admirer of her novels. |
| Plural | admirers | Admirers queued for hours. |
| Verb | admire | I admire your patience. |
| Noun | admiration | Genuine admiration. |
| Adjective | admirable | An admirable decision. |
How it is used in a sentence
- He was a great admirer of her early work.Respect for what someone does.
- Flowers arrived from a secret admirer.The romantic sense.
- The building has its admirers, though I am not one.Slightly dry, common in criticism.
Admirer, fan and follower
- Admirer — respectful, individual, often about quality
- Fan — enthusiastic, informal, implies a crowd
- Follower — now mostly a social media count, with no feeling attached
From Latin *admirari*, to wonder at, from *ad* plus *mirari*, to marvel — the same root as *miracle* and *mirror*.
What does secret admirer mean?
Someone attracted to you who has not said so. The phrase is usually attached to an unsigned gift or note.
Admirer or admiror?
Admirer. The -er ending is standard; *admiror* is not an English word.