glorify
C1Formal, literary, religious
Definition
Meaning
to praise and worship; to make something seem better, more important, or more admirable than it really is.
To honor or exalt to a high degree; to describe or represent in a way that emphasizes positive qualities, often excessively; to transform something into a state of glory.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb has two main senses: 1) A positive, often religious sense of offering praise or honor (neutral/positive connotation). 2) A potentially negative sense of falsely or excessively embellishing something (often critical connotation). The context determines which sense is active.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling remains consistent.
Connotations
In both varieties, the negative connotation of 'making something ordinary seem magnificent' is common in secular contexts (e.g., glorifying war). The religious connotation is equally strong.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English in religious contexts due to broader evangelical media presence. In secular critical discourse (e.g., 'glorifying violence'), frequency is comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] glorifies [Object] (e.g., The book glorifies the leader).[Subject] glorifies [Object] as [Complement] (e.g., They glorified him as a hero).Passive: [Object] is glorified by [Subject] (e.g., The act was glorified by the media).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Glorify in print”
- “Nothing to glorify about”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially used critically: 'The annual report tends to glorify minor successes.'
Academic
Common in historical, literary, or media criticism: 'The narrative glorifies imperial conquest.'
Everyday
Most common in its negative sense: 'That film just glorifies gang life.'
Technical
In theology: 'The primary purpose of man is to glorify God.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The media should not glorify the actions of terrorists.
- Their hymns glorify the divine.
- He was glorified in the biographies that followed.
American English
- The film was criticized for glorifying drug use.
- We gather to glorify the Lord.
- They glorified his business acumen as genius.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We sing songs to glorify God.
- The story glorifies the brave knight.
- Many people think that video games glorify violence.
- The poet wrote verses to glorify nature's beauty.
- Historians warn against glorifying the imperial past without acknowledging its crimes.
- The ceremony sought to glorify the sacrifices of the founding generation.
- The director was accused of glorifying the protagonist's toxic behaviour, presenting it as rebellious rather than destructive.
- Medieval art often glorified heavenly Jerusalem as a city of gold and light.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GLORY' + 'IFY' (to make). To glorify is to 'make glorious', for better or for worse.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS BRIGHTNESS/LIGHT (to glorify is to shed a glorious light upon). DECEPTION IS BEAUTIFICATION (to glorify falsely is to paint an overly beautiful picture).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'прославлять' when the context is negative criticism. In English, 'glorify' in a negative context implies distortion, not just 'making famous'.
- Do not confuse with 'glory' as a noun meaning 'honor'. The verb often carries an active, sometimes manipulative sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'glorify' as a synonym for simple 'praise' in neutral contexts where it sounds too strong or religious.
- Incorrect preposition: 'glorify for' (incorrect) vs. 'glorify as' (correct) when specifying the role.
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'glorify' most clearly carry a NEGATIVE connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. While common in religious language, its secular use, often meaning 'to portray in an idealised or excessively positive light', is very frequent (e.g., 'glorifying war').
The primary noun is 'glorification' (e.g., the glorification of violence).
It ranges from formal (theology, academic criticism) to everyday (media criticism). It is less common in casual conversation about simple praise.
'Praise' is general approval. 'Glorify' implies raising to a level of supreme glory or honor, and in its critical sense, it involves distortion or exaggeration beyond mere praise.