idolize

verb

idol·​ize ˈī-də-ˌlīz How to pronounce idolize (audio)
idolized; idolizing

transitive verb

: to worship as a god
broadly : to love or admire to excess
the common people whom he so idolized The Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

: to practice idolatry
idolization noun
idolizer noun

Examples of idolize in a Sentence

an actor who is idolized by millions she blindly idolized her older sister, refusing to acknowledge any of her faults
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His father, a tugboat stoker, was often away, and young Terence found solace in films, idolizing Gary Cooper and James Dean. Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 Ju-ae idolized Hee-ran, but Hee-ran sees the wannabe starlet as a threat. Kayti Burt, Time, 22 Aug. 2025 McGonigle grew up idolizing second baseman Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies and scouts believe that is the position he is best suited to play. Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 Humanity’s mandate to exercise dominion implies experimenting with every arena of creation, soil science, finance, neurology, and now neural networks, while refusing to idolize any fragment of that creation. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for idolize

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of idolize was in 1605

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Idolize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idolize. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

idolize

verb
idol·​ize ˈīd-ᵊl-ˌīz How to pronounce idolize (audio)
idolized; idolizing
: to worship as an idol : love or admire too much
idolization
ˌīd-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən
noun
idolizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on idolize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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