To adore means to love someone or something deeply and enthusiastically. When you adore your grandmother, you don't just like her: you think she's wonderful and feel genuine joy being around her. When someone adores chocolate ice cream, they don't merely enjoy it, they light up at the thought of it.

Adore carries a stronger feeling than simply “like” or even “love.” It suggests devotion and delight. A younger sibling might adore an older brother, following him around and thinking everything he does is amazing. A reader might adore a particular book series, reading each volume multiple times and recommending it to everyone.

The word also appears in religious contexts, where to adore means to worship with deep reverence. People adore God in prayer and song.

You might hear someone say a puppy is adorable, using the related adjective that means extremely lovable or charming. When something is adorable, it inspires that same warm, delighted feeling that makes you want to protect it, hug it, or simply smile at it. The connection is clear: we call things adorable when they make us feel like adoring them.