glorify

verb

glo·​ri·​fy ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī 

glorified; glorifying

transitive verb

1

a

: to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration

b

: to elevate to celestial glory

2

: to light up brilliantly

Chandeliers glorified the entire room.

3

a

: to represent as glorious : extol

a song glorifying romantic love

b

: to cause to be or seem to be better than the actual condition

the new position is just a glorified version of the old stockroom job

4

: to give glory to (as in worship)

glorification

ˌglȯr-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

glorifier

ˈglȯr-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• aggrandize
• canonize
• deify
• dignify
• elevate
• ennoble
• enshrine
• ensky
• enthrone
• exalt
• magnify

Examples of glorify in a Sentence

Glorify and give thanks to God.

a number of big names were recruited in the hopes that their presence would glorify the university's school of medicine in the eyes of the medical world

Recent Examples on the Web

Following a single warning in May for a video that appeared to glorify Palestinian militantism, YouTube shut down two channels tied to the organization Samidoun Network for unspecified violations of the violent criminal organizations policy. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 2 July 2024

At a time when Ditko felt more and more outcast, Objectivism glorified the independent thinker who doesn’t fit within social conventions. —Jay Deitcher, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2024

Many Asian Americans criticized her for glorifying an approach that left them scarred as children. —Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 15 June 2024

When antisemitism encourages, glorifies, and justifies hate crimes, that is when it has been weaponized. —For The New York Daily News, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English glorifien, from Anglo-French glorifier, from Late Latin glorificare, from gloria

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

glorify

verb

glo·​ri·​fy ˈglōr-ə-ˌfī 

ˈglȯr-

glorified; glorifying

1

: worship entry 2 sense 1, adore

2

: to praise highly

3

: to present in a highly often overly favorable light

glorify war

glorification

ˌglōr-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

ˌglȯr-

noun

glorifier

ˈglōr-ə-fī(-ə)r 

ˈglȯr-

noun