praise

[preyz]

noun

1. the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.

   Synonyms: compliment, approbation, applause, plaudit, acclamation
   Antonyms: condemnation

2. the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship.

   a hymn of praise to God.

   Synonyms: panegyric, eulogy, encomium

3. the state of being approved or admired.

   The king lived in praise for many years.

4. Archaic.,  a ground for praise, or a merit.

verb (used with object)

praised, praising 

1. to express approval or admiration of; commend; extol.

   Synonyms: eulogize, applaud, laud
   Antonyms: depreciate

2. to offer grateful homage to (God or a deity), as in words or song.

   Synonyms: honor, exalt, glorify

praise

/ preɪz /

noun

1. the act of expressing commendation, admiration, etc

2. the extolling of a deity or the rendering of homage and gratitude to a deity

3. the condition of being commended, admired, etc

4. archaic,  the reason for praise

5. to commend someone highly

verb

1. to express commendation, admiration, etc, for

2. to proclaim or describe the glorious attributes of (a deity) with homage and thanksgiving

Other Word Forms

• praiseful adjective
• praisefully adverb
• praiseless adjective
• praiser noun
• half-praised adjective
• half-praising adjective
• outpraise verb (used with object)
• repraise verb (used with object)
• self-praise noun
• self-praising adjective
• superpraise noun
• unpraised adjective
• unpraiseful adjective
• unpraising adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of praise¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb preisen, from Old French preisier “to value, prize,” from Late Latin pretiāre, derivative of Latin pretium “worth, reward” ( price ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of praise¹

C13: from Old French preisier, from Late Latin pretiāre to esteem highly, from Latin pretium prize; compare _prize ², _precious

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sing someone's praises, to praise someone publicly and enthusiastically.

   He is always singing his wife's praises.

More idioms and phrases containing praise

• damn with faint praise
• sing someone's praises

Synonym Study

See approve.

Example Sentences

But reactions have been mixed, with some residents praising the army and hoping for an orderly transition.

Read more on BBC

Badenoch's comments sparked both sharp criticism and praise from political colleagues.

Read more on BBC

This was to underscore the literal truth of Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Gower also praised not only Bower’s stamina, but also his commitment to the performance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Still, others have praised the secretary's core message of respect and kindness, with one commenting: "I will do my small part to spread civility in my own life."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• acclaim 
• accolade 
• applause 
• appreciation 
• approval 
• cheer 
• commendation 
• compliment 
• cry 
• devotion 
• esteem 
• glory 
• kudos 
• ovation 
• plaudit 
• rave 
• recognition 
• recommendation 
• thanks 
• tribute