ennoble

verb

en·​no·​ble i-ˈnō-bəl 

e-ˈnō-

ennobled; ennobling i-ˈnō-b(ə-)liŋ 

e-ˈnō-

transitive verb

1

: to make noble : elevate

seemed ennobled by suffering

2

: to raise to the rank of nobility

ennoblement

i-ˈnō-bəl-mənt 

e-ˈnō-

noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of ennoble in a Sentence

a life ennobled by suffering

Her skill and talent ennoble her profession.

He was ennobled by the queen.

Recent Examples on the Web

Shostakovich’s detractors have accused him of ennobling Stalin while defenders have sought out subtle musical cues of dissent. —Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024

Biden, by comparison, deserves to be ennobled, not ejected. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 July 2024

Hayek’s paternal great-great-grandfather, a textile manufacturer in Moravia, was ennobled at the end of the eighteenth century; his son squandered his wealth in the course of the nineteenth. —Corey Robin, The New Yorker, 29 June 2024

Francesca’s father Diego was inspired to ennoble Sicily’s then-low-end wine production at a time when the focus was on volume rather than quality. —Sofia Celeste, WWD, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ennobelen, from Middle French ennoblir, from Old French, from en- + noble noble

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ennoble

verb

en·​no·​ble in-ˈō-bəl 

ennobled; ennobling -b(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to make noble : elevate

seemed ennobled by his hardship

2

: to raise to the rank of nobility

ennoblement

-bəl-mənt 

noun