Standard Lemma guide

idolize

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈaɪdəlaɪz/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AY1 D AH0 L AY2 Z Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make an idol of, or to worship as an idol.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To adore excessively; to revere immoderately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • idolize a celebrity
  • idolize someone blindly
  • Many young fans idolize pop stars.
  • She was idolized by her students.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exalt, magnify, venerate, worthy, aggrandize, applaud, enthrone, appraise, belaud, bepraise, commend, cry up, eulogize, extol, glorify, honor, idolize, laud, lionize, panegyrize, praise, puff, revere, speak well of, transfigure, esteem, lay store by, look up to, prize, hallow, put store by, put store in, rate, regard, respect, set store by, value

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Many teenagers idolized the Beatles

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: idolise, worship, hero-worship, revere

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: adore

Narrower terms: drool over, slobber over

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyd- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *wéydos Proto-Hellenic *wéidos Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon)der. Latin īdōlumder. Old French idolebor. Middle English ydole English idol Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English idolize From idol + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: aanbid — to make an idol of
  • Afrikaans: verafgod — to make an idol of
  • Arabic: أَلَه (ʔalah) — to make an idol of
  • Bulgarian: прекланям се (preklanjam se) — to make an idol of
  • Bulgarian: боготворя (bogotvorja) — to make an idol of
  • Catalan: idolatrar — to make an idol of
  • Choctaw: afehnʋchi — to make an idol of
  • Danish: idolisere — to make an idol of
  • Dutch: verafgoden — to make an idol of
  • Finnish: ihannoida — to make an idol of
  • Finnish: jumaloida — to make an idol of
  • Finnish: palvoa — to make an idol of
  • French: idolâtrer — to make an idol of
  • Hungarian: bálványoz — to make an idol of
  • Italian: idolatrare — to make an idol of
  • Polish: ubóstwiać — to make an idol of
  • Polish: ubóstwić — to make an idol of
  • Serbo-Croatian: obožavati — to make an idol of
  • Spanish: idolatrar — to make an idol of
  • Swedish: idolisera — to make an idol of
  • Turkish: idolleştirmek — to make an idol of
  • Turkish: ilahlaştırmak — to make an idol of
  • Turkish: tanrılaştırmak — to make an idol of
  • Turkish: putlaştırmak — to make an idol of
  • Bulgarian: обожавам (obožavam) — to adore excessively
  • Catalan: idolatrar — to adore excessively
  • Finnish: ihannoida — to adore excessively
  • Finnish: jumaloida — to adore excessively
  • Finnish: palvoa — to adore excessively
  • Hungarian: istenít — to adore excessively
  • Spanish: idolatrar — to adore excessively
  • Swedish: idolisera — to adore excessively
  • Turkish: ilahlaştırmak — to adore excessively
  • Turkish: tapmak — to adore excessively