pedestal
Americannoun
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an architectural support for a column, statue, vase, or the like.
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a supporting structure or piece; base.
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Furniture.
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a support for a desk, consisting of a boxlike frame containing drawers one above the other.
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a columnar support for a tabletop.
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Building Trades. a bulge cast at the bottom of a concrete pile.
verb (used with object)
idioms
noun
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a base that supports a column, statue, etc, as used in classical architecture
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a position of eminence or supposed superiority (esp in the phrases place, put, or set on a pedestal )
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either of a pair of sets of drawers used as supports for a writing surface
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( as modifier )
a pedestal desk
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of pedestal
1555–65; alteration of Middle French piedestal < Italian piedestallo, variant of piedistallo literally, foot of stall. See ped- 2, de, stall 1
Explanation
A pedestal is a base or foundation that supports something like a statue or work of art. Think of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. where a statue of Lincoln sitting in a chair is raised up on a huge pedestal. Think of the physical stand or support when you use pedestal figuratively to mean a place of superiority. If you put someone on a pedestal, you honor that person or place him or her above you, as you might a piece of valued art. If you want to knock someone off his or her pedestal, you think that person is too arrogant and you want to do something to humble him or her.
Vocabulary lists containing pedestal
Body Language: Ped, Pod ("Foot")
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The Poet X
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On a Pedestal: Marble-ous Words for Sculpture
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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:
Don Colossus stands proud atop a stone pedestal, keeping vigil over a small commemorative plaque.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
“Drake was very highly regarded before then. For some people, that knocked him off the pedestal a bit.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 13, 2026
But some in the industry would argue that, despite their cultural and economic contributions, games aren't placed on the same pedestal as other creative sectors.
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
At Amarapura's Nagayon Pagoda, a Buddha statue reduced to just two legs and hands on a pedestal has been fully restored, looking out with a serene gaze.
From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026
He’d packed earth beneath the glass caps like a pedestal to show off their delicate silhouettes.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
The lower level of the Winners Gallery has cars on pedestals that are banked 9 degrees, 12 minutes—the same as the four banked turns of the racetrack.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Further investigation by the SIT has revealed pilferage also from the pedestals and door frames and the court says that approximately 4.54kg gold has gone missing since 2019.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2025
Specifically, Parisi looked at certain pedestals and determined the amount of heating and fueling required to achieve it given a particular plasma shape.
From Science Daily ● May 28, 2024
They chose to paint it “quetzal,” a rich aqua color that serves as a uniting element for the room’s other pedestals.
From New York Times ● May 2, 2024
Several people stopped to write prayers in oversized books resting on wooden pedestals near the statue: “Dear Heavenly Father: If it is your will let me speak to Eddie this one last time.”
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
He flicked a whip at the cageful of pedestaled lions & tigers, took the chance of turning his back on them, jumped into the fight.
From Time Magazine Archive
But to Back Bay he is an idol, firmly pedestaled.
From Time Magazine Archive
The trainer swaggered up to a pedestaled tiger, thrust the chair at its open jaws.
From Time Magazine Archive
Coal followed one of the curves to the closest pedestaled mirror.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Each of the lovers was a genius; each had been pedestaled by the world; each was supposed to live on a rarified plane far above the heads or the ken of mere earth folk.
From Superwomen by Terhune, Albert Payson
A body less firmly pedestalled upon powerful legs and scoop-shovel feet would have gone down.
From The Devil's Asteroid by Wellman, Manly Wade
Why comes temptation but for man to meet And master and make crouch beneath his foot, And so be pedestalled in triumph?
From An Introduction to the Study of Browning by Symons, Arthur
Rather turn Whither, upon the upland, pedestalled Into the broad day-splendour, whom discern These eyes but thee, supreme one, rightly called Moon-maid in heaven above and, here below, Earth's huntress-queen?
From An Introduction to the Study of Browning by Symons, Arthur
It was Cromwell's mood, as one who, living under the eye of God, scorned the vapourings of pedestalled mortals.
From The Path of the King by Buchan, John
Plashing fountains, murmuring organs, a Marochetti Queen high pedestalled, white statues, glistering silver-blazoned banners.
From Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853) by Various
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.
