# shrine

/ˈʃɹaɪn/ (US) · /ʃɹˈaɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shrine
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. sacred place

noun · CEFR B2

a holy place dedicated to a god, a saint, or a famous person who has died.

For teachers: a sacred site or structure dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, saint, or martyr, where they are venerated.

- Many people travel to the mountain to visit the ancient shrine of the goddess.
- Pilgrims from across the continent gathered at the shrine to offer prayers and leave small tokens of their devotion.

### 2. figurative place of respect

noun · CEFR B2

a place that people visit or respect because it is connected to someone or something they admire.

For teachers: a site or object hallowed by its historical associations or dedicated to the memory of a particular person or event.

- The singer's childhood home has become a shrine for his millions of fans.
- The small museum served as a shrine to the local industry, preserving tools and documents that dated back to the town's founding.

### 3. relic container

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a special box or case used to hold holy objects, like the bones of a saint.

For teachers: a receptacle, such as a reliquary or casket, designed to house sacred relics.

- The golden shrine containing the saint's remains was kept behind a heavy iron gate.
- Art historians examined the ornate carvings on the medieval shrine, noting the intricate details of the silver filigree.

### 4. to place reverently

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to put something in a special place to show it is very important or holy.

For teachers: to place or protect something as if in a shrine; more commonly encountered as the derivative 'enshrine'.

- She decided to shrine the old photograph in a beautiful silver frame.
- The poet sought to shrine his lost love within the verses of his final collection, ensuring her memory would endure.

Usage: The simple verb form is rare in modern prose; 'enshrine' is the standard transitive choice.

## Examples

- Many people visit the shrine to pray for good health.
- The local community built a small roadside shrine to honor the victims of the accident.
- The cathedral houses a magnificent golden shrine containing the relics of the patron saint, attracting thousands of pilgrims from across the continent every summer.

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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.