venerate
Americanverb (used with object)
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venerates,
present (3rd person singular)
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venerated,
past participle, past
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venerating
present participle
verb
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to hold in deep respect; revere
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to honour in recognition of qualities of holiness, excellence, wisdom, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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veneratesimple
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veneratessimple
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have veneratedperfect
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has veneratedperfect
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am veneratingprogressive
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are veneratingprogressive
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is veneratingprogressive
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have been veneratingperfect progressive
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has been veneratingperfect progressive
Past
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veneratedsimple
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had veneratedperfect
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was veneratingprogressive
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were veneratingprogressive
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had been veneratingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of venerate
1615–25; < Latin venerātus, past participle of venerārī to solicit the goodwill of (a god), worship, revere, verbal derivative of vener-, stem of venus, presumably in its original sense “desire”; see Venus)
Explanation
To venerate is to worship, adore, be in awe of. You probably don't venerate your teacher or boss; however, you may act like you do! The word hasn't come far from its Latin roots in venerari, "to worship." Although you can certainly venerate a deity, a person can deserve it, too. We don't usually venerate our friends: instead, we usually save this feeling for deities or remarkable people who inspire awe. Mother Teresa was venerated for her work with the poor, and Gandhi was venerated for his efforts for peace, but most people aren't venerated for normal stuff like taking out the trash or hanging out on a Saturday.
Vocabulary lists containing venerate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
That made it an object to venerate as well as a beacon amid political storms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
The trillion-dollar pay package has its roots in Musk’s desire to control 25% of Tesla stock, so he can’t be pushed out, even though most long-time Tesla investors and his board venerate his leadership.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2025
This should matter to folks on the left and the right, to those who venerate higher education and those who vote in favor of states’ rights against federal overreach.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025
It is, however, one reason why we venerate the founders.
From Slate ● May 8, 2024
As the years went by, we started to venerate that dog proper, like the saint she is.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
Within a legal profession that venerates judges and worships the Supreme Court, this is borderline heresy.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
That “Project Hail Mary” venerates the art of filmmaking is just one of its many marvelous aspects, but one that should not be overlooked.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026
Samnite bronze head, a rare Waldesian Evangelical community and an ancient annual pageant with pagan roots that venerates a circular cane garlanded in wild cyclamen flowers.
From New York Times ● Jan. 22, 2024
Boy Gru venerates these villains and wants to join them.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 29, 2022
Venerā′tion, the act of venerating: the state of being venerated: the highest degree of respect and reverence: respect mingled with reverence and awe: awe; Ven′erātor, one who venerates.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
Chavéz, whom the lawsuit called “a folk saint,” has been venerated across California for decades, with scores of schools, streets, parks and public buildings named in his honor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The clause survives as decoration: incorporated, venerated, and incapable of stopping a single seizure.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
Buddhist monks are highly venerated in Thailand, entrusted with preserving and passing on the Buddha's teachings.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Behind the statue depicting a black Virgin Mary - venerated in both religions - are the words "pray for us and pray for the Muslims".
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
It may be, too, that he wanted to show in the most startling and shocking way possible how easy it was to deceive the awful, venerated, humbly adored divinities.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
The U.S.-influenced counterculture of the 1960s inverted the social order, venerating indigenous folkways and fueling aspirations for full independence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
At the Butovo firing range, a Stalin-era execution site near Moscow that has become a shrine to his victims, visiting Russians warned against venerating the wartime leader or emulating his ideas.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025
The themes of performances at Mr Gopalakrishnan's house include honouring a deified ancestor, venerating a warrior-hunter deity, and worshipping tiger spirits symbolising strength and protection.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2024
“Fernando, popularly known as “El Toro”, isn’t just a player; he’s a symbol of resilience, dedication, and passion to many like myself who grew up venerating him,” wrote Hector Gonzalez, who started the petition.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2024
There was a village in the north of France where peasants were venerating a dog as a saint.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
