# glorify

/ˈɡɫɔɹəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /ɡlˈɔːɹɪfˌaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/glorify
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to praise or worship

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to praise or honor someone or something very highly, especially in a religious way.

For teachers: to bestow honor, praise, or admiration upon a deity or person; to exalt to a state of glory.

- The ancient songs were written to glorify the king after his victory.
- The cathedral was designed with soaring arches and stained glass specifically to glorify the divine through architectural grandeur.

### 2. to make something seem better

verb · CEFR B2

to describe something bad or ordinary in a way that makes it seem exciting or noble.

For teachers: to represent something in an admirable or idealistic way, often undeservedly; to romanticise a negative or mundane subject.

- Many people argue that action movies glorify violence and crime.
- Critics argued that the novel's prose served to glorify a period of history that was actually defined by extreme poverty and social injustice.

## Examples

- The movie does not glorify war; it shows the pain it causes.
- Critics argued that the documentary tended to glorify the criminal's lifestyle rather than focusing on the victims.
- While the poet intended to celebrate national identity, modern historians suggest his work serves to glorify a period of colonial expansion that was actually marked by significant systemic inequality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.