idolize

I1D2O1L1I1Z10E1
/ˈaɪdəlaɪz/

verb

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

“idolize a celebrity”

Similar
exaltmagnifyvenerateworthyaggrandizeapplaudenthroneappraise
OriginEnglish idol ← Middle English ydole ← Old French idole →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

verbidolize (third-person singular simple present idolizes, present participle idolizing, simple past and past participle idolized)

present singular third person idolizes · participle present idolizing · participle past idolized · past idolized · alternative idolise

  1. To make an idol of, or to worship as an idol.
  2. To adore excessively; to revere immoderately.

    idolize a celebrity

    3 more examples

    idolize someone blindly

    Many young fans idolize pop stars.

    She was idolized by her students.

    Synonyms: exalt, magnify, venerate, worthy, aggrandize, applaud, enthrone, appraise

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo adore excessively; to revere immoderately.

Similar
exaltmagnifyvenerateworthyaggrandizeapplaudenthroneappraisebelaudbepraisecommendcry upeulogizeexaltextolglorifyhonorlaudlionize

More synonyms by meaning

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

Similar
idoliseworshiphero-worshiprevere
Broader
adore
Also see
aggrandizeappraisebelaudbepraisecommendcry updignifyesteemeulogizeexaltextolglorifyhero-worshiphonorlaudlook up tomagnifypanegyrizepraiseprizeput on a pedestalrateregardrespectrevereset store bytransfigurevaluevenerateworship

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*weyd-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*wéydos
  3. Proto-Hellenic*wéidos
  4. Ancient Greekεἶδος (eîdos)
  5. Ancient Greekεἴδωλον (eídōlon)
  6. Latinīdōlum
  7. Old Frenchidole
  8. Middle Englishydole
  9. Englishidol
  10. Englishidolize

From idol + -ize.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans aanbid, verafgod
  • aanbidto make an idol of
  • verafgodto make an idol of
Arabic أَلَه
  • أَلَه (ʔalah)to make an idol of
Bulgarian прекланям се, боготворя
  • прекланям се (preklanjam se)to make an idol of
  • боготворя (bogotvorja)to make an idol of
  • обожавам (obožavam)to adore excessively
Catalan idolatrar, idolatrar
  • idolatrarto make an idol of
  • idolatrarto adore excessively
Danish idolisere
  • idolisereto make an idol of
Dutch verafgoden
  • verafgodento make an idol of
Finnish ihannoida, jumaloida
  • ihannoidato make an idol of
  • jumaloidato make an idol of
  • palvoato make an idol of
  • ihannoidato adore excessively
  • jumaloidato adore excessively
  • palvoato adore excessively
French idolâtrer
  • idolâtrerto make an idol of
Hungarian bálványoz, istenít
  • bálványozto make an idol of
  • istenítto adore excessively
Italian idolatrare
  • idolatrareto make an idol of
Polish ubóstwiać, ubóstwić
  • ubóstwiaćto make an idol of
  • ubóstwićto make an idol of
Spanish idolatrar, idolatrar
  • idolatrarto make an idol of
  • idolatrarto adore excessively
Swedish idolisera, idolisera
  • idoliserato make an idol of
  • idoliserato adore excessively
Turkish idolleştirmek, ilahlaştırmak
  • idolleştirmekto make an idol of
  • ilahlaştırmakto make an idol of
  • tanrılaştırmakto make an idol of
  • putlaştırmakto make an idol of
  • ilahlaştırmakto adore excessively
  • tapmakto adore excessively
Cite this entry
APA

idolize. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolize

MLA

“idolize.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolize. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “idolize,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/idolize.

Source: idolize on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.