# worship

/ˈwɝʃəp/ (US) · /wˈɜːʃɪp/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious devotion

noun · CEFR B1

the act of showing respect and love to a god, especially by praying with others.

For teachers: the devotion or adoration accorded to a deity or sacred object, often expressed through ritual.

- The local church holds a special service of worship every Sunday morning.
- The temple serves as a central hub for communal worship, drawing pilgrims from across the province for the annual festival.

### 2. extreme admiration

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of very strong love or admiration for a person.

For teachers: ardent love or voluntary submission to a person or ideal; secular adoration.

- Her worship of the famous singer was clear from the posters covering her walls.
- The public's hero worship of the young inventor began to fade as the flaws in his business model became apparent.

### 3. derivative music

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

music that sounds exactly like another artist's work, often in a way that is too obvious.

For teachers: a piece of music that heavily and unapologetically draws influence from another artist's style.

- The band's new album is just pure Radiohead worship without any original ideas.
- Critics dismissed the debut single as mere Bowie worship, noting that the vocal phrasing and synth textures were identical to his mid-seventies output.

### 4. formal title

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

a title used when speaking to a mayor or a judge in the UK.

For teachers: a title or term of address for certain high-ranking officials, such as magistrates or mayors.

- The lawyer addressed the magistrate as 'Your Worship' during the hearing.
- Protocol dictates that the mayor be addressed as 'Your Worship' during all official civic ceremonies within the borough.

### 5. to pray or revere

verb · CEFR B1

to show respect to a god by praying or following religious customs.

For teachers: to reverence a deity with supreme respect; to perform religious exercises in honour of a higher power.

- Many people in this village worship at the small chapel by the sea.
- Ancient civilizations in this region used to worship the sun as the primary source of life and fertility.

### 6. to love deeply

verb · CEFR B2

to love or admire someone so much that you think they are perfect.

For teachers: to honour with extravagant love or extreme submission; to idolize a person.

- It was obvious to everyone that he absolutely worshipped his older brother.
- The fans continue to worship the retired athlete, despite the controversies that plagued the final years of his career.

## Examples

- The ancient temple was a place of worship.
- The fans' worship of the pop star was evident in the way they followed every detail of her life.
- Sociologists argue that modern celebrity culture has replaced traditional religious worship for many people, providing a shared sense of community and ritual through digital platforms.

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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.