English Reference

Word

god

US/ˈɡɑd/

UK/ɡˈɒd/

Definitions

01monotheism

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun Religion

n. the single being who created the universe in religions like Christianity, Islam, or Judaism.

n. The supreme being and principal object of faith in monotheistic religions. Often capitalized as a proper noun.

“Many people pray to God for help when they are going through a difficult time.”

“Theologians have spent centuries debating the nature of God and the problem of evil in a world created by a benevolent deity.”

Synonyms

the Creatorthe Almighty

02polytheism

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Religion

n. a spirit or being with special powers that people worship, especially in ancient stories.

n. A superhuman being or spirit worshipped as having power over nature or human fortunes; a deity.

“Mars was the Roman god of war, while Venus was the goddess of love.”

“In ancient Greek mythology, the gods were often depicted as having human flaws and complex interpersonal rivalries.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03highly skilled person

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. someone who is so good at a specific activity that they seem better than everyone else.

n. A person who is exceptionally admired or influential in a specific field or activity. Informal in register.

“In the world of guitar playing, he is considered a god by his fans.”

“The lead developer was treated like a god within the startup, as his code formed the backbone of the entire platform.”

Synonyms

04exclamation of emotion

B1 · Intermediate Informal

interj. a word you say when you are surprised, angry, or shocked.

interj. An exclamation used to express surprise, anger, frustration, or emphasis. Often considered mild profanity depending on the social context.

“Oh god, I completely forgot that the meeting was starting at eight.”

“God, it is frustrating when the software crashes right before you have a chance to save your progress.”

Usage

Often preceded by 'oh' or 'my'; can be offensive to religious speakers.

Synonyms

05to treat as a deity

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to treat someone with so much respect that it is like you are worshipping them.

v. To treat or worship someone or something as a deity. Often used in the phrasal form 'to god it over someone' to describe acting superior.

“The fans would god their favorite singers, following their every move.”

“The biography explores how the public tended to god the inventor, ignoring his significant personal failings in favor of his professional triumphs.”

Synonyms

deifyidolize

Antonyms

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew- Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰutós? Proto-Germanic *gudą Proto-West Germanic *god Old English god Middle English god Middle English God English God Derived from Middle English God. See god.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Related words

Idioms

Domains

InternetPhilosophyReligion

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Very common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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