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
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.
So just to have the opportunity to glorify God on the football field is truly been an honor. Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 There is a temptation, less today than in the past, to glorify war while glossing over or ignoring the inherent brutality of the practice of organized killing of opposing armed forces, plus civilians. Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 2025 Kanye West, the American rapper known as Ye, has been blocked from entering Australia following his release of a song widely considered to glorify the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025 Postwar German society glorified him as a victim and opponent of Nazi politics, an image which Nolde carefully fostered. Ombline Damy, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for glorify

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Glorify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glorify. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!