What does "praise" mean?

1. (to express approval) to say that someone or something is very good. 2. (to worship) to show respect and love for a god through words or song. 3. (words of approval) words that show you admire someone or something.

How do you use "praise"?

Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the approval.

praise

v. · n.

US //ˈpɹeɪz// UK //pɹˈeɪz// praise

1 to express approval (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to say that someone or something is very good.

to express warm approval or admiration of someone or something. Transitive — requires a direct object.

Example

The teacher praised the students for their hard work on the project.

Example

The critics praised the director's innovative use of lighting, noting that it transformed an otherwise conventional script into a visual masterpiece.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the reason for the approval.
2 to worship (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

to show respect and love for a god through words or song.

to glorify or express adoration for a deity as an act of worship.

Example

The congregation gathered to praise God through hymns and prayer.

Example

The ancient text contains several psalms intended to praise the creator for the abundance of the harvest.
- worship
- glorify
- exalt

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3 words of approval (n.)
B1 Intermediate

words that show you admire someone or something.

the expression of approval or admiration. Uncountable when referring to the concept; countable when referring to specific instances.

Example

The young artist received a lot of praise for her first exhibition.

Example

Despite the widespread praise from the public, the author remained modest about the impact of his latest novel.
- criticism
- disapproval

Etymology 1

From Middle English praise, preyse, from the verb (see below). Doublet of prize. Displaced native Middle English lof from Old English lof (“praise”) and Middle English loenge, loange from Old French löenge, löange (“praise”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English praisen, preisen, from Old French proisier, preisier (“to value, prize”), from Late Latin pretiō (“to value, prize”) from pretium (“price, worth, reward”). Displaced native Middle English herien from Old English herian (“to praise”).

Idioms3 entries