glorify

verb

glo·​ri·​fy ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce glorify (audio)
glorified; glorifying

transitive verb

1
a
: to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration
b
: to elevate to celestial glory
2
: to light up brilliantly
Chandeliers glorified the entire room.
3
a
: to represent as glorious : extol
a song glorifying romantic love
b
: to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual condition
the new position is just a glorified version of the old stockroom job
4
: to give glory to (as in worship)
glorification noun
glorifier noun

Examples of glorify in a Sentence

Glorify and give thanks to God. a number of big names were recruited in the hopes that their presence would glorify the university's school of medicine in the eyes of the medical world
Recent Examples on the Web Dresen grew up in East Germany in the 1960s and 1970s, prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and makes a conscious effort to avoid presenting the Red Orchestra as superheroes of the sort glorified during his childhood. Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Extremism researchers warn that Abbott’s stand against federal orders is communicated in language that glorifies vigilantism and promotes white supremacist talking points. Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024 However, since the internet serves all humans, content shouldn’t be glorified based on its mass-market appeal. William Mullane, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2024 Extremism researchers warn that Abbott’s stand against federal orders is communicated in language that glorifies vigilantism and promotes white-supremacist talking points. Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 In recent years, there’s been an effort to debunk the generalizations and glorified stories of white abolitionists, Schanie said, and focus rather, on the individuals, who fled to freedom. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2024 This includes those who glorify, support, or represent terrorist organizations designated by the US government. Rosa Rahimi, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024 Discord has a zero-tolerance policy against content that glorifies violence and violent extremism, which is reflected in our Community Guidelines. Ben Goggin, NBC News, 8 Jan. 2024 Through a mix of incentives and coercion, the broadcast media has been enlisted in an image-building machine that glorifies Mr. Modi as an infallible, godlike leader. Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'glorify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English glorifien, from Anglo-French glorifier, from Late Latin glorificare, from gloria

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of glorify was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near glorify

Cite this Entry

“Glorify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glorify. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

glorify

verb
glo·​ri·​fy ˈglōr-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce glorify (audio)
ˈglȯr-
glorified; glorifying
1
2
: to praise highly
3
: to present in a highly often overly favorable light
glorify war
glorification noun
glorifier noun

More from Merriam-Webster on glorify

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