worship

verb wor·ship \ ˈwər-shəp also ˈwȯr- \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of worship

worshipped also worshiped; worshipping also worshiping

transitive verb

1 : to honor or reverence as a divine being or supernatural power

2 : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

a celebrity worshipped by her fans

intransitive verb

: to perform or take part in worship or an act of worship

—

worshipper

or less commonly worshiper noun

See worship defined for English-language learners

Examples of worship in a Sentence

Many ancient cultures worshipped the sun and moon.
They worship at this temple.
I worship God in my own way.

Recent Examples of worship from the Web

On April 13 -- and then again on April 20 -- thousands of sun-worshipping music fans will head out to the desert in Indio, Calif. for the start of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

— jason lipshutz, Billboard, "Top 22 Coachella Performances Ever," 9 Apr. 2018
The accident was felt across the hockey-worshipping country and plunged a community of less than 6,000 people into grief.

— christopher carbone, Fox News, "Grieving Canadian town to hold vigil for victims of deadly bus crash," 8 Apr. 2018
Richard has worshipped at Cornerstone Bible Church in South Dade for over 20 years, where has many friends.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Deaths in South Florida: 4/7," 7 Apr. 2018
Some of King's relatives have worshiped there, and Caviness helped to bring his fellow Baptist minister to speak to thousands of Clevelanders.

— grant segall, cleveland.com, "Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s ties to Cleveland still strong 50 years after death," 4 Apr. 2018
Despite a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, Beijing only officially permits Catholics to worship under the direction of the Patriotic Catholic Association, which does not recognize papal authority.

— james griffiths, CNN, "After almost 70 years, is China and Vatican rift set to heal?," 31 Mar. 2018
Remarkably, the Barbagia communities near Mamoiada were among the last in modern-day Italy to convert to Christianity, continuing to worship wood and stone until the seventh century.

— eliot stein, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Pagan Exorcism in Sardinia," 29 Mar. 2018
Easter breakfast is at 8:30 a.m. and Easter worship at 9:30 a.m. April 1.

— Post-Tribune, "Church news," 23 Mar. 2018
Their blood, sweat and tears have provided us the ability to worship the God of our choosing, to freely vote and to raise our families in peace.

— Naperville Sun, "Letters to the editor: VFW post more than just a building, Bibbiano has qualifications for DuPage sheriff," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'worship.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of worship

13th century

worship Synonyms

Phrases

carry a torch for (or carry the torch for), fall for, lose one's heart (to);

Synonym Discussion of worship

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

- a professor revered by her students

reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

- reverenced the academy's code of honor

venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

- heroes still venerated

worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

- worships their memory

adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

- we adored our doctor

Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sire, sous

worship

noun

Definition of worship

1 : reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence

2 : a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual

3 : extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

worship of the dollar

4 chiefly British : a person of importance —used as a title for various officials (such as magistrates and some mayors)

See worship defined for English-language learners

See worship defined for kids

Examples of worship in a Sentence

worship of gods and goddesses
Worship services are held daily.
the media's worship of celebrities

Recent Examples of worship from the Web

Clergy and lay people from several places of worship and the town will lead guests in prayer for towns, state and union.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Valley Edition," 10 Apr. 2018
The lives and deaths of Kennedy family members provide grist for endless conspiracy theorizing, tabloid salaciousness, celebrity-worship and superstition.

— a. o. scott, New York Times, "Review: ‘Chappaquiddick’ Revisits a Grim ’60s Kennedy Scandal," 4 Apr. 2018
Kek worship and Tumblr's version of witchcraft aren’t the first religions to burst forth from the internet's skull, and all of them are similarly shining examples of Poe’s Law.

— emma grey ellis, WIRED, "Witches, Frog-Gods, and the Deepening Schism of Internet Religions," 3 Apr. 2018
But anti-Semitic violence increased by 26 percent, and criminal damage to Jewish places of worship and burial by 22 percent.

— Time, "85-Year-Old Woman Stabbed to Death in Anti-Semitic Slaying in Paris, Officials Say," 27 Mar. 2018
An Easter breakfast will be at 9 a.m. and Easter worship and cantata will be at 10:30 a.m. April 1.

— staff report, Daily Southtown, "Church news," 26 Mar. 2018
There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children after worship and a fellowship time.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Awards presented to woman's club members," 22 Mar. 2018
But rest assured, Winter Jam also features traditional Christian fare, like worship and ministry.

— jeremy hallock, star-telegram, "Fort Worth one of only two Texas stops for Christian music fest Winter Jam | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 14 Mar. 2018
Today more than ever our freedoms are being taken away, freedom from want, freedom of worship and freedom of expression.

— patrick crowley, Billboard, "Dance Diva Nadel Paris Talks Chart Success of 'Ooh La La La La' & Bisexual Visibility," 5 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of worship

Middle English worshipe worthiness, respect, reverence paid to a divine being, from Old English weorthscipe worthiness, respect, from weorth worthy, worth + -scipe -ship

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

worship Synonyms

Synonyms

adulation, deification, hero worship, idolatry, idolization, worshipping (also worshiping);

Near Antonyms

condemnation, disapproval, disfavor, dislike, dismissal, disregard, hatred, loathing, scorn;

idealization, romanticization;

affection, fancy, favor, fondness, like, liking, love;

appreciation, esteem, regard, respect;

approval;

WORSHIP Defined for English Language Learners

worship

noun

Definition of worship for English Language Learners

: the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god : the act of worshipping God or a god
: excessive admiration for someone

worship

verb

Definition of worship for English Language Learners

: to honor or respect (someone or something) as a god
: to show respect and love for God or for a god especially by praying, having religious services, etc.
: to love or honor (someone or something) very much or too much