worship
B2Formal and religious, but also informal/humorous in extended use for strong admiration.
Definition
Meaning
To show deep reverence, adoration, or devotion to a deity, religious figure, or object considered sacred.
To have intense love, admiration, or devotion for a person, thing, or concept; a feeling or expression of such reverence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it is a mass noun (e.g., 'places of worship'). As a verb, it can denote both the action and the state of feeling. The extended, secular use often implies an almost religious intensity of admiration.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British contexts, 'Worship' (capitalized) is a formal title for a mayor or magistrate (e.g., 'Your Worship'). This usage is rare to non-existent in AmE. Verb inflection: UK 'worshipped/worshipping', US often 'worshiped/worshiping'.
Connotations
Similar core religious connotations. The British title use adds a layer of formal, civic respect.
Frequency
The word is slightly more frequent in US corpora, reflecting higher rates of self-reported religious practice, but is common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] + [OBJECT] (worship a god)[VERB] + [ADVERB] (worship devoutly)[NOUN] + [PREP] of + [OBJECT] (the worship of saints)[ADJECTIVE] + [NOUN] (idol worship)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hero worship”
- “worship the ground someone walks on”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; potential in 'brand worship' or 'CEO worship' as metaphorical, critical terms.
Academic
Common in religious studies, anthropology, sociology (e.g., 'nature worship', 'cargo cult worship').
Everyday
Primarily in religious contexts; extended humorous/secular use: 'He absolutely worships his older sister.'
Technical
Specific in theology and comparative religion to classify types (e.g., liturgical worship, devotional worship).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The community worships at the historic parish church.
- He quite worships his vintage car, polishing it for hours.
American English
- They worship at a non-denominational church.
- Fans worship that basketball player like he's a king.
adverb
British English
- The monks prayed worshipfully throughout the night.
American English
- She gazed worshipfully at her newborn baby.
adjective
British English
- The worshipping congregation sang hymns.
- His worshipping attitude towards the celebrity was obvious.
American English
- The worshiping community gathered for the evening service.
- Her worshiping gaze never left the stage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They go to church to worship.
- I worship with my family on Sundays.
- Many ancient cultures practised sun worship.
- She worships her grandfather and thinks he can do no wrong.
- The temple was built for the worship of local deities.
- He has a tendency towards hero worship, often imitating his favourite actors.
- The sect's worship practices were syncretic, blending elements from several traditions.
- Her blind worship of market forces prevented her from seeing the need for regulation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WORSHIP' as 'WORth-SHIP' – you believe someone or something is worthy enough to put on a ship and admire from afar.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADORATION IS A PHYSICAL ACT OF BOWING (He worships her = he is metaphorically prostrate before her). VALUE IS A DEITY (Money worship = treating money as a god).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'worship' as 'молиться' (to pray) in secular contexts. Use 'боготворить' or 'обожать' for 'idolize/adore'. The noun 'worship' is not 'молитва' (prayer) but 'поклонение'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pray' and 'worship' as exact synonyms (worship is broader). Incorrectly using 'a worship' (it's usually uncountable). Confusing 'Your Worship' (UK title) with 'Your Honour' (judge).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses of 'Worship' is specifically British?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is religious, it is commonly used metaphorically to express extreme admiration for a person, object, or idea (e.g., 'worshipping a celebrity', 'worshipping money').
'Worship' is a broader concept encompassing all acts of reverence, devotion, and adoration towards a deity (including prayer, singing, rituals). 'Pray' specifically refers to the act of communicating with a deity, often through spoken or silent words.
Both are correct. 'Worshipped/worshipping' is standard in British English. 'Worshiped/worshiping' is common in American English, though US publishers often accept the double 'p' as well.
Rarely. It is primarily an uncountable (mass) noun (e.g., 'a place of worship'). In very specific theological contexts, it can be countable to mean 'an instance or form of worship' (e.g., 'the various worships of the ancient world'), but this is advanced usage.