adorar
verbCEFR B2
What does “adorar” mean in English?
to worship, to adore
to worship, to adore (adorar — hold in the highest devotion; intense admiration or love)
Example sentences
La serie fue adorada por millones de seguidores que lamentaron profundamente su cancelación anticipada.
The series was adored by millions of followers who were deeply saddened by its early cancellation.
En muchas tradiciones antiguas, el sol era adorado como fuente de vida y energía.
In many ancient traditions, the sun was worshipped as a source of life and energy.
Adora cocinar para sus amigos los fines de semana; dice que es su forma de expresar afecto.
She adores cooking for her friends at weekends; she says it is her way of expressing affection.
How to use it
Adorar means 'to worship', 'to adore', or 'to love intensely'. It encompasses both religious worship (adorar a Dios) and intense secular devotion (la serie fue adorada por millones). In everyday speech it also means to love something enthusiastically: adorar la música (love music passionately). It is stronger than amar (love — more intimate/interpersonal) and much stronger than gustar (like). Near-synonyms: venerar (venerate — more formal/reverential), idolatrar (idolise — uncritical devotion), reverenciar (revere — most formal).
Common mistake
Adorar + infinitive (love to do something) is very natural in spoken Spanish: 'adoro viajar'. In religious contexts, adorar requires a and uses the biblical register. Don't confuse with admirar (admire — evaluative appreciation without the devotion intensity of adorar). Adorar implies intense, somewhat unconditional attachment.