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worship

[ wur-ship ]
/ ˈwɜr ʃɪp /
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See synonyms for: worship / worshiped / worshipped / worshipping on Thesaurus.com

noun
verb (used with object), wor·shiped, wor·ship·ing or wor·shipped, wor·ship·ping.
to render religious reverence and homage to.
to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing).
verb (used without object), wor·shiped, wor·ship·ing or wor·shipped, wor·ship·ping.
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Origin of worship

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun wors(c)hipe, worthssipe, Old English worthscipe, variant of weorthscipe; Middle English verb derivative of the noun; see origin at worth1, -ship

OTHER WORDS FROM worship

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT WORSHIP

What does worship mean?

Worship is the honor and reverence given to a god or sacred object, as in The holy men would not allow anyone to interrupt their worship of the gods. 

Worship can also refer to the formal act or ceremony in which a person gives such reverence, as in The family attended worship yesterday. 

Worship can be used more generally to refer to passionate adoration or devotion of anything, as in I am sometimes disturbed by the creepy worship of celebrities.

As a verb, worship can be used in both the religious sense, as in worshipping nature, or the secular sense, as in worshiping the musician at every concert. 

In American English, worshiped and worshipping are spelled with only one P, while in British English they are spelled with two P’s (worshipped, worshipping).

Self-worship is used to refer to someone who reveres or adores themselves, as in The dozens of flattering self-portraits were just one example of the king’s self-worship.   

Example: My sister worships her cats and is always buying fancy gifts for them. 

Where does worship come from?

The first records of worship come from before the year 900. It comes from the Old English weorthscipe, formed from the word worth, meaning “good” or “important,” and the suffix -ship, indicating a condition or character. If you worship someone or something, you think they or it is important enough to be revered or idolized.

The word worship is used to discuss religion and will often appear in religious texts. Practicing a religion often includes honoring a god, multiple gods, or nature. Religious worship can involve things like prayer or meditation during which you express your devotion to a supreme being or force. Churches, synagogues, and mosques are described as “places of worship” because they are the location where you would typically go to honor your God.

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What are some other forms related to worship?

  • worshiper (noun)
  • worshipper (noun)
  • worshipingly (adverb)
  • misworship (verb)
  • preworship (noun)
  • self-worship (noun)

What are some synonyms for worship?

What are some words that share a root or word element with worship

What are some words that often get used in discussing worship?

How is worship used in real life?

Worship is commonly used to refer to religion or a person’s relationship with a supreme being. Outside of religion, worship is used to mean that a person intensely adores or reveres someone or something.

Try using worship!

Is worship used correctly in the following sentence?

Ancient Romans worshiped many gods and gave sacrifices to them at their temples to show their reverence.

How to use worship in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for worship (1 of 2)

worship
/ (ˈwɜːʃɪp) /

verb -ships, -shipping or -shipped or US -ships, -shiping or -shiped
noun

Derived forms of worship

worshipable, adjectiveworshipper, noun

Word Origin for worship

Old English weorthscipe, from worth 1 + -ship

British Dictionary definitions for worship (2 of 2)

Worship
/ (ˈwɜːʃɪp) /

noun
mainly British (preceded by Your, His, or Her) a title used to address or refer to a mayor, magistrate, or a person of similar high rank
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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