idolize

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

Synonyms

• adore
• adulate
• canonize
• deify
• dote (on)
• hero-worship
• worship

Examples of idolize in a Sentence

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

The first step for organizations is thus making employees aware of the risk of sleep deprivation instead of idolizing those who get by with little sleep. —Lieke Ten Brummelhuis, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

But to me, this trend seems to go beyond idolizing celebrity style. —Sam Reed, Glamour, 31 Oct. 2024

Many of the players who have idolized her for years must now step up. —Emily Olsen, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

Owing to her father’s belief that women’s menstruation breaks the all-important power of ancestors, Yuet has never felt truly and unconditionally loved by Man, despite idolizing him and studying his ritual performances. —Richard Kuipers, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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