1
: an object of extreme devotion
a movie idol
also
: ideal sense 2
2
: a representation or symbol of an object of worship
broadly
: a false god
4
: a false conception : fallacy
5
: a form or appearance visible but without substance
… an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol …—
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe ShelleyExamples of idol in a Sentence
an actor who is the idol of millions
a movie star whose portrayal of a comic book superhero in a blockbuster series has made him the idol of millions
Recent Examples on the Web
In the band’s heyday, Anthony Kiedis, with his bare torso and long girlish copper-blond hair, looked like a ’70s teen idol who’d become a Warhol hustler – a street-flesh god like Joe Dallesandro, except that where Dallesandro was in a daze, Kiedis was a live wire.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Mensik was going for his maiden title and beat his idol 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4).
—Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
At the height of his teen idol fame, fans lined up outside television studios and concerts hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Arguably television’s premier singing competition show, this cultural institution has given America many idols over its 24 seasons, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood — the latter of whom has returned as a judge.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idol
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Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
Mensik was going for his maiden title and beat his idol 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4).
—Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
At the height of his teen idol fame, fans lined up outside television studios and concerts hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Arguably television’s premier singing competition show, this cultural institution has given America many idols over its 24 seasons, including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood — the latter of whom has returned as a judge.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for idol
Cite this Entry
“Idol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idol. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
idol
noun1
: an image worshipped as a god
2
: a greatly loved and admired person or thing
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