praise

[ preyz ]

noun

1. the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.

   Synonyms: compliment, approbation, applause, plaudit, acclamation

   Antonyms: condemnation

2. the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship:

   a hymn of praise to God.

   Synonyms: panegyric, eulogy, encomium

3. the state of being approved or admired:

   The king lived in praise for many years.

4. Archaic. a ground for praise, or a merit.

verb (used with object)

, praised, prais·ing.

1. to express approval or admiration of; commend; extol.

   Synonyms: eulogize, applaud, laud

   Antonyms: depreciate

2. to offer grateful homage to (God or a deity), as in words or song.

   Synonyms: honor, exalt, glorify

praise

/ preɪz /

noun

1. the act of expressing commendation, admiration, etc
2. the extolling of a deity or the rendering of homage and gratitude to a deity
3. the condition of being commended, admired, etc
4. archaic.
   the reason for praise
5. sing someone's praises
   to commend someone highly

verb

1. to express commendation, admiration, etc, for
2. to proclaim or describe the glorious attributes of (a deity) with homage and thanksgiving

Derived Forms

• ˈpraiser, noun

Other Words From

• praiseful adjective
• praiseful·ly adverb
• praiseless adjective
• praiser noun
• half-praised adjective
• half-praising adjective
• outpraise verb (used with object) outpraised outpraising
• re·praise verb (used with object) repraised repraising
• self-praise noun
• self-praising adjective
• super·praise noun verb (used with object) superpraised superpraising
• un·praised adjective
• un·praiseful adjective
• un·praising adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of praise¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb preisen, from Old French preisier “to value, prize,” from Late Latin pretiāre, derivative of Latin pretium “worth, reward” ( price ); noun derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of praise¹

C13: from Old French preisier, from Late Latin pretiāre to esteem highly, from Latin pretium prize; compare prize ², precious

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. sing someone's praises, to praise someone publicly and enthusiastically:

   He is always singing his wife's praises.

More idioms and phrases containing praise

In addition to the idiom beginning with praise , also see damn with faint praise ; sing someone's praises .

Synonym Study

See approve.

Example Sentences

The day after Mr. Trump’s election this month, Mr. Adani posted congratulations on social media, praising the president-elect as “the embodiment of relentless determination and the courage to stay true to his beliefs.”

From New York Times

Among the tributes paid to him on Thursday was one from Al Gore, the American former vice president, who praised Mr. Prescott’s work in helping to negotiate the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

From New York Times

Harbaugh has had no shortage of praise for his franchise quarterback.

From Los Angeles Times

"I haven't a clue," replies Fisher - clearly a man who doesn't give praise gushingly.

From BBC

Laura Van Broekhoven, who is the director of the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, said she was "outraged" at the auction and praised the decision to remove the remains from sale.

From BBC

Related Words

• acclaim
• accolade
• applause
• appreciation
• approval
• cheer
• commendation
• compliment
• cry
• devotion
• esteem
• glory
• kudos
• ovation
• plaudit
• rave
• recognition
• recommendation
• thanks
• tribute