one of several deities, especially a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
an image of a deity; an idol.
any deified person or object.
a nebulous powerful force imagined to be responsible for one's fate.
The god of poker dealt me two aces.
Theater. gods,
the upper balcony in a theater.
the spectators in this part of the balcony.
the Supreme Being, worshiped as the creator or ultimate source of the universe.
the Supreme Being according to a particular religion or conception.
She called upon Allah, the God of Islam, for help.
the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute.
May the God of mercy comfort you.
a supernatural being, who is worshipped as the controller of some part of the universe or some aspect of life in the world or is the personification of some force
an image, idol, or symbolic representation of such a deity
any person or thing to which excessive attention is given
money was his god
a man who has qualities regarded as making him superior to other men
(in plural) the gallery of a theatre
theol the sole Supreme Being, eternal, spiritual, and transcendent, who is the Creator and ruler of all and is infinite in all attributes; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
to behave in an imperious or superior manner
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch god, German Gott, Old Norse goth, Gothic guth
see origin at god ( def. )
A god is a supreme being or deity, and it's spelled with a lowercase g when you're not referring to the God of Christian, Jewish, or Muslim tradition. The ancient Greeks had many gods — including Zeus, Apollo, and Poseidon. A physical representation of a deity is also called a god. If you go to Hawaii, you can even buy a god in a gift shop — a statue or idol that represents one of the Hawaiian gods, like a figure of the god Pele. The word god also refers to a man of superior quality or exceptional beauty. Elvis Presley was considered a god by many teenage girls in the late 1950s.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Priests used this odd object, divided into zones inscribed with the name of a god, as a teaching tool: In a sacrificed animal, departures from the liver’s usual features were viewed as messages from deities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
The angry sea god Poseidon is reduced to rumors; mighty Zeus withheld to a few well-timed thunderclaps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
“By the grace of god, we’ll be able to make it through this.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
Authorities at the grand temple to Hindu god Ram in the northern Indian city of Ayodhya have announced a leadership overhaul after allegations that tens of millions of rupees received in donations have been stolen.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Little had I known then that it would attract the god of rot.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
"We thank God that this attack did not turn into a tragedy with loss of life," he said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026
Jesus was not being clever when he said in Matthew 22:21 “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
Just as life came through Pachamama, they believed, Mary was chosen by God as the mother through whom he sent his Son, who gave humanity the path to eternal life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
“The whole time I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, what if it doesn’t work out?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
And this person—this so-called ancient God of the Tano River—might also be in denial about the death of his mother.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Stories of Greek and Roman gods in pursuit of pleasure and vengeance, aided by their hounds, are captured in Roman sculpture and paintings of the Renaissance and Baroque.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
It’s possible to get to the end of “The Odyssey” and conclude that Nolan doesn’t believe in gods at all.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
The social media gods have been good to Matejka, and the Kardashian story is only half of it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
Just short of the hour-mark, two doughty Scots walked up the steep steps at the Boston Stadium in search of their seats in the gods.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
We are meant to be the foes of the gods and their children.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
This last old man, Whom with crack'd heart I have sent to Rome, Lov'd me above the measure of a father; Nay, godded me indeed.
From Coriolanus by Shakespeare, William
This last old man, Whom with a crack'd heart I haue sent to Rome, Lou'd me, aboue the measure of a Father, Nay godded me indeed.
From Coriolanus by Shakespeare, William
The earth not paeans thee, nor serves thy hest, Be godded not by Heaven! avert thy face, And leave to blank disgrace The oblivious world! unsceptre thee of state and place!
From New Poems by Thompson, Francis
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.
