lionize

[ lahy-uh-nahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, li·on·ized, li·on·iz·ing.

1. to treat (a person) as a celebrity:

   to lionize the visiting poet.

2. British. to visit or exhibit the objects of interest of (a place).

verb (used without object)

, li·on·ized, li·on·iz·ing.

1. to pursue celebrities or seek their company.
2. British. to visit the objects of interest of a place.

lionize

/ ˈlaɪəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. tr to treat as or make into a celebrity

Derived Forms

• ˌlioniˈzation, noun
• ˈlionˌizer, noun

Other Words From

• li·on·i·za·tion noun
• li·on·iz·er noun
• li·on·ized adjective
• un·li·on·ized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lionize¹

First recorded in 1800–10; lion + -ize ( def )

Example Sentences

His role in the impeachment lionized him among fellow Democrats, demonized him among Republicans and seeded his campaign for the Senate.

From Los Angeles Times

It's nice for people to support you, don't get me wrong, but we can't lionize people being in prison.

From Salon

Things get messy when we start lionizing anyone, perhaps especially young men who were just good at playing a child’s game.

From Los Angeles Times

The brief, but high-energy moment marked Newsom’s only official speaking role at the four-day political event, where Democrats gathered to praise President Biden as the party’s past and lionize Harris as its future.

From Los Angeles Times

This particular example isn’t mentioned in the book, though, which focuses instead on the broad idea of service and lionizes the show’s cast members for their various social and political activism.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eulogize
• glorify
• idolize