Worship — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈwər-shəp/ wor·ship

Meaning & Definition of Worship

Worship (verb)

  1. to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power
  2. to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion
  3. to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship

Worship (noun)

  1. reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also, an act of expressing such reverence
  2. a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
  3. extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

Worship (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. excessive admiration of or devotion to a person

    "the worship of professional athletes who often turn out to be all too fallible"

    similar: adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping
    related: adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration, idealization, romanticization, affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, appreciation, esteem, regard, respect, approval
    near: condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn

Worship (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power

    "the ancient Greeks worshipped many different gods"

    similar: adore, deify, glorify, revere, reverence, venerate
    related: admire, honor, love, regard, respect, apotheosize, canonize, dignify, exalt, lionize, magnify, extol, laud, praise, delight, gratify, please, satisfy
    near: blaspheme, desecrate, profane, violate, affront, dishonor, disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, pique, ridicule, scorn, slight, displease, defame, disparage, libel, malign, slander, slur, smear

  2. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "the new father worships his baby daughter, and would do anything for her"

    similar: adore, cherish, love, carry a torch (for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)
    related: adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, delight (in), dote (on)
    opposite: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe
    near: antagonize, displease, disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike, disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

  3. to love or admire too much

    "thought that some of her fellow senior citizens worshipped the old days too much, observing that they weren't all good"

    similar: adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), hero-worship, idolize
    related: appreciate, cherish, esteem, prize, treasure, value, fancy, favor, like, prefer, regard, hallow, respect, revere, venerate, approve, endorse, support
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, disdain, dislike, hate, loathe, belittle, deprecate, disparage, misprize, put down

Related Entry: Hero-worship (verb)

Hero-worship is a different word from Worship. The synonyms below are for hero-worship, not for worship.

  1. to love or admire too much

    "people who hero-worship celebrities are setting themselves up for disappointment"

    similar: adore, adulate, canonize, deify, dote (on), idolize, worship
    related: appreciate, cherish, esteem, prize, treasure, value, fancy, favor, like, prefer, regard, hallow, respect, revere, venerate, approve, endorse, support
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, disdain, dislike, hate, loathe, belittle, deprecate, disparage, misprize, put down

  2. to praise too much

    "a golfing pro who is hero-worshipped by hordes of weekend duffers"

    similar: adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, flatter, honey, massage, overpraise, puff, soft-soap, stroke
    related: blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle, fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady, idolize, worship, eulogize, extol, laud, praise, applaud, commend, compliment, congratulate, felicitate, drool, gush, slaver, slobber, endear, ingratiate, court, romance, woo
    near: bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Related Entry: Hero worship (noun)

Hero worship is a different word from Worship. The synonyms below are for hero worship, not for worship.

  1. excessive admiration of or devotion to a person

    "once the object of uncritical hero worship, the aging quarterback now faces the derision of his team's fickle fans"

    similar: adulation, deification, idolatry, idolization, worship, worshipping
    related: adoration, deference, glorification, reverence, veneration, idealization, romanticization, affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love, appreciation, esteem, regard, respect, approval
    near: condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Worship

The most common words with a similar meaning to Worship:

adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping, adore, deify, glorify, revere, reverence, venerate, cherish, love, adulate, canonize, dote (on), hero-worship, idolize, carry a torch (for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Worship

Words with the opposite meaning of Worship:

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe

Related Words for Worship

adoration, deference, glorification, veneration, idealization, romanticization, affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, appreciation, esteem, regard, respect, approval, admire, honor, apotheosize, dignify, exalt, lionize, magnify, extol, laud, praise, delight, gratify, please

Near Antonyms of Worship

condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn, blaspheme, desecrate, profane, violate, affront, dishonor, disrespect, insult, offend, outrage, pique, ridicule, slight, displease, defame, disparage, libel, malign, slander, slur, smear

Word Forms of Worship

Inflections: worshipped, worshiped, worshipping, worshiping

Derived words: worshipper (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Worship

Middle English worþschipen, worschepen, worshippen "to hold in honor, esteem, show respect for, revere (a deity), conduct religious rites," derivative of wurðscip, worschip "honor, esteem, religious faith, rank, value" worship:2

First known use: 13th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Worship

  • Topics: Religion & Beliefs

Words & Phrases Containing Worship

worship at the altar of, worship the ground someone walks on, ancestor worship, hero-worship, hero worship, self-worship

Frequently Asked Questions about Worship

What does "Worship" mean?

"Worship" means to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Worship"?

Other words for "Worship" include adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping, adore and deify. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Worship" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Worship"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Worship". Common alternatives include adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping, adore, deify, glorify and revere.

What is the opposite of "Worship"?

Antonyms of "Worship" include abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate and loathe. Near antonyms include condemnation, disapproval, disfavor and dislike.

How do you use "Worship" in a sentence?

Examples of "Worship" in a sentence: "the worship of professional athletes who often turn out to be all too fallible"; "the ancient Greeks worshipped many different gods"; "the new father worships his baby daughter, and would do anything for her".

Is "Worship" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Worship" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Worship"?

"Worship" is pronounced /ˈwər-shəp/ and divided into syllables as wor·ship.

What is the origin of the word "Worship"?

"Worship" comes from Middle English worþschipen, worschepen, worshippen "to hold in honor, esteem, show respect for, revere (a deity), conduct religious rites," derivative of wurðscip, worschip "honor, esteem, religious faith, rank, value" worship:2. First known use: 13th centuryt.