Worship
/ˈwɜːrʃɪp/
Worship is the act of showing deep religious reverence or intense admiration for a deity, person, or thing.
Examples
- He was accused of worshipping false idols.
- He worships money and luxury cars.
- They worshipped her performance on stage.
- The cult worshipped their leader without question.
- Fans worship the rock star like a god.
Meanings
Derived from Old English weorþ (worthy) and scipe (a suffix denoting a state or condition, similar to '-ship'). Literally meant 'the condition of being worthy', evolving into the act of honoring something or someone as worthy, especially a divine being.
Examples
- They gather every Sunday for morning worship.
- The temple is a sacred space for Hindu worship.
- She worships at the local mosque after work.
- Many ancient cultures worshipped the sun as a god.
- He was accused of worshipping false idols.
By the 1500s, the term began to be applied beyond religious contexts, reflecting the idea that people could treat non-divine things—such as wealth, power, or individuals—with the same intensity as religious worship.
Examples
- Fans worship the rock star like a god.
- He worships money and luxury cars.
- They worshipped her performance on stage.
- Some worship technology as if it holds all the answers.
- The cult worshipped their leader without question.