glorify

verb

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

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.
The event glorified Black entrepreneurs in the way usually associated with athletes and soul music stars. Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026 Compared to four-buckle boots and buttery powder skis, those glorified running shoes and accompanying ski blades are just no fun to shred. Anthony Walsh, Outside, 26 Feb. 2026 Irish symbols, booze and leprechauns were glorified. Bella Monaco, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026 Unlike the portraits in Newman’s book, which were painted to glorify their sitters, many of the images in the Epstein files have a queasy, destabilizing aspect. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026 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 7 Mar. 2026.

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

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