worship
WER-ship
/ˈwɜː.ʃɪp/
The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity; to honor with religious rites.
Involves active devotion, ritual, or deep devotion; can figuratively describe intense admiration for a human or object.
The story behind the word. From Old English 'weorþscipe', meaning 'condition of being worthy'—a combination of 'worth' and the suffix '-ship'. It evolved from honoring worthy humans to divine adoration.
Word relationships
- venerate: 'Venerate' implies deep respect and honor (often for saints or elders), whereas 'worship' implies divine adoration.
- revere: 'Revere' emphasizes profound respect and awe, secular or religious.
- despise: To feel deep contempt or hatred for.
- condemn: To express complete disapproval or censure.
Commonly confused with
- warship: A warship is a military naval vessel; worship is religious devotion.
Word family
- worshiper (noun): A person who worships.
- worshipful (adjective): Feeling or showing reverence and adoration.
Collocations
- place of worship
- freedom of worship
- worship services
- hero worship
Idioms & expressions
- worship the ground someone walks on
Example sentences
- "Pilgrims gathered at dawn outside the ancient temple complex to worship." Religious Practice
- "The community built elaborate monuments dedicated to the worship of cosmic forces." Cultural Observation
Memory hook
WORSHIP = WORTH + SHIP. Giving honor to that which has supreme WORTH. Acknowledging supreme worth.
When not to use
Avoid confusing with 'respect'—worship involves deep devotion or religious homage.
Fun facts
- In British legal traditions, certain magistrates are still addressed as 'Your Worship' as a title of respect.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.