Cool MateAdmire vs Respect
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Respect
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Admire | Respect | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmaɪə(r)/","/ədˈmaɪəz/","/ədˈmaɪəd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmaɪər/","/ədˈmaɪərz/","/ədˈmaɪərd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈspekt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈspekt/"]/ |
| Meaning | To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. | To treat someone well and value their feelings. |
| Example | I really admire her dedication to her work. | It's important to show respect to your elders. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | noun |
| Collocations | deeply, enormously, greatly, have to, about, for, be generally admired, be widely admired, can’t help admiring, pause to, stop to, stand back to | considerable, deep, enormous, feel, have, hold somebody in, respect for, great, utmost, little, accord somebody/something, pay (somebody/something), show (somebody/something), out of respect, with respect, a lack of respect, a mark of respect, a sign of respect, certain, different, crucial, differ in, be alike in, be identical in, in… respect, in respect of, with respect to, in all, many, some, several, etc. respects, in every respect, in this respect |
| Antonyms | despise, disdain, scorn | disrespect, contempt, scorn |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admiration' as a verb., Incorrectly using 'admire' without an object., Using 'admire' inappropriately in casual contexts. | Using 'respect' as a verb without an object, e.g., 'I respect' instead of 'I respect him.', Confusing 'respect' with 'regard' in phrases., Mispronouncing 'respect' by not emphasizing the second syllable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'admire' when you want to express respect or approval for someone or something. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but might come across as less common in very casual conversations. | Use 'respect' in both formal and informal settings. It's appropriate for professional situations, personal relationships, and discussions about values. Avoid using it in sarcastic or derogatory contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Admire vs Respect
What's the difference between Admire and Respect?
Admire: To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. Respect: To treat someone well and value their feelings.
Are Admire and Respect the same CEFR level?
Admire: B1, Respect: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Admire and Respect?
Admire: verb, Respect: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Admire: I really admire her dedication to her work. Respect: It's important to show respect to your elders.
Can I use Admire and Respect interchangeably?
Not always. Admire and Respect are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.