glorify

verb

glo·​ri·​fy ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī 

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

ˌglȯr-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

glorifier

ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• aggrandize
• canonize
• deify
• dignify
• elevate
• ennoble
• enshrine
• ensky
• enthrone
• exalt
• magnify

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

In theory, the monument was meant to glorify a national hero, a martyr to imperialism. —Michela Wrong, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2023

Critics say such wrestling is an exploitative and dangerous spectacle that fuels public harassment and glorifies a derogatory slur. —Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2023

There have been nearly 200 antisemitic acts, mostly verbal threats and vandalism, and over 100 people have been arrested for such acts or for glorifying terrorism, according to the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin. —Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023

By posting footage of the assault on its Telegram page, Hamas magnified the psychological warfare against Israelis and glorified the killing rampage for its online audience of supporters. —Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 16 Oct. 2023

The late Shinzo Abe, for example, prayed at the imperialist Yasukuni Shrine, in Tokyo, where major war criminals are glorified and monuments set among elegant gardens honor such notorious wartime organizations as the Kempeitai, the rough Japanese equivalent of the Gestapo. —Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2023

The early aughts seemed like a cesspool of dating games, emotional and mental manipulation, and glorifying the battle of the sexes, rooted in misogyny. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 25 Sep. 2023

The singer is known for glorifying drug trafficking in his music. —Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023

And its wars and gladiator fights have been depicted in popular films that tend to glorify themes of dominance and power. —Alexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 23 Sep. 2023

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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

Kids Definition

glorify

verb

glo·​ri·​fy ˈglōr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈglȯr-

glorified; glorifying

1

: worship entry 2 sense 1, adore

2

: to praise highly

3

: to present in a highly often overly favorable light

glorify war

glorification

ˌglōr-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌglȯr-

noun

glorifier

ˈglōr-ə-fī(-ə)r 

ˈglȯr-

noun