idolize
B2Neutral, but with formal or literary connotations. Often used in journalism and commentary.
Definition
Meaning
To admire, revere, or love excessively; to treat someone as an idol.
To bestow extreme adoration or devotion upon someone or something, often to the point of overlooking their flaws or treating them as a perfect ideal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a one-sided, often uncritical, form of intense admiration. The object of idolization is typically a person (celebrity, athlete, leader), but can be an abstract concept or lifestyle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'idolise' is standard in British English, while 'idolize' is standard in American English. The '-ise/-ize' suffix is the only systematic difference.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] idolizes [Object (Person/Thing)][Subject] is idolized by [Agent]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put on a pedestal”
- “Worship the ground someone walks on”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Occasionally used metaphorically ('The team idolized the visionary CEO').
Academic
Used in cultural studies, sociology, and media studies to discuss celebrity culture and fandom.
Everyday
Common in discussions about celebrities, sports stars, and pop culture.
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Many young footballers idolise players like Harry Kane.
- It's unhealthy to idolise a political figure so uncritically.
American English
- A generation of fans idolized Michael Jordan.
- She warned against idolizing influencers whose lives are heavily curated.
adverb
British English
- He spoke idolisingly of his former teacher.
- They gazed idolisingly at the stage.
American English
- She looked at him idolizingly, hanging on his every word.
- The biography was written idolizingly, lacking critical depth.
adjective
British English
- The idolising fan base was overwhelming.
- He had an idolised status within the community.
American English
- She received idolizing coverage in the teen magazines.
- His idolized image was carefully managed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She idolizes her big sister.
- Many children idolize superheroes.
- Teenagers often idolize famous singers and actors.
- He idolizes his grandfather and wants to be like him.
- The press accused the public of blindly idolizing the flawed celebrity.
- It's a phase many fans go through, where they idolize a band member.
- Historians caution against idolizing historical figures, as it obscures a nuanced understanding of their legacy.
- The cult-like movement idolized its leader, refusing to acknowledge any criticism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an IDOL (like a pop star) and add '-ize' meaning 'to make into'. To IDOLIZE is to make someone into your idol.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADMIRATION IS WORSHIP (The admired person is a deity/idol; the admirer is a worshipper/devotee).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from 'идолопоклонничать' (to practice idolatry), which is narrower and more religious. 'Idolize' is more about personal adoration.
- Do not confuse with 'idealize' (идеализировать), which focuses on seeing as perfect, while 'idolize' focuses on adoration.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'idiolize' (incorrect).
- Using it transitively without an object: 'He idolizes.' (Incomplete).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'The biographer avoided an idolizing tone,' the word 'idolizing' is closest in meaning to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary noun form is 'idolization' (or 'idolisation' in UK spelling). 'Idolizer' (idoliser) refers to a person who idolizes.
Not always, but it often carries a critical nuance, suggesting the admiration is excessive, blind, or unhealthy. Neutral use is possible ('As a child, I idolized my aunt').
'Admire' is neutral and can be measured. 'Idolize' implies a stronger, more intense, and often uncritical level of admiration bordering on worship.
Yes, though less common. Examples: 'He idolizes the concept of absolute freedom.' 'They idolize wealth above all else.'