[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/idolise/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / idolise

# idolise

verb (idolise, idolises, idolised, idolising; US spelling idolize)

«idolise» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To admire or love someone very much, often too much, as if they were perfect — a star, a sports player or an older brother or sister. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#m1)
2. (religion) Literally, to treat something as an idol to worship; Jews, Christians and Muslims teach that worshipping idols is wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life children idolise footballers, singers, YouTubers or older siblings. In PSHE lessons pupils talk about role models and remember that no one is perfect. In stories, a character who idolises someone may learn that the hero has flaws. Phrases: idolise someone, idolised by fans, a hero he idolised.

### Examples

- My little brother idolises his favourite footballer and copies his haircut. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x1)
- She idolised her big sister and followed her everywhere. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x2)
- Millions of fans idolise the singer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x3)
- It's fine to admire people, but don't idolise them; everyone makes mistakes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x4)
- As a boy he idolised the astronauts on the Moon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x5)
- The Bible warns against idolising things like money. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/#x6)

### Note

UK spelling «idolise», US «idolize»; both are correct. Noun: «idol» (a person who is idolised, or a statue worshipped as a god). Do not confuse «idol» with «idle» (lazy, not working) — they sound the same.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «idolise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idolise/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«idolise» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/idolise.html) on Mova free.