idolize

1 of 2

verb

idol·​ize ˈī-də-ˌlīz 

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

ˌī-də-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

idolizer

ˈī-də-ˌlī-zər 

noun

idolization

2 of 2

noun

idol·​i·​za·​tion

variants also British idolisation

ˌīdᵊlə̇ˈzāshən, 

-ᵊlīˈz-

plural -s

: the act of idolizing or state of being idolized

the idolization to which they were subjected

Synonyms of idolize

Verb

• adore
• worship
• like

Examples of idolize in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Combs idolized his father, Melvin, wearing his portrait on a medallion around his neck; Christian treats his father with the same reverence. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

As a boy, Algren lived on the South Side and idolized the White Sox. — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Messi, who is idolized in Argentina, has never played professionally in his home country. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Reading the book feels refreshing — a clarifying antidote to a culture increasingly obsessed with idolizing and leveraging suffering. — Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for idolize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

idolize

verb

idol·​ize ˈīd-ᵊl-ˌīz 

idolized; idolizing

: to worship as an idol : love or admire too much

idolization

ˌīd-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən

noun

idolizer

ˈīd-ᵊl-ˌī-zər 

noun