god

¹

[ god ]

noun

1. one of several deities, especially a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs. Compare goddess ( def 1 ).
2. an image of a deity; an idol.
3. any deified person or object.
4. a nebulous powerful force imagined to be responsible for one's fate:

   The god of poker dealt me two aces.

5. gods, Theater.
   1. the upper balcony in a theater.
   2. the spectators in this part of the balcony.

verb (used with object)

, god·ded, god·ding.

1. to regard or treat as a god; deify; idolize.

God

²

[ god ]

noun

1. the Supreme Being, worshiped as the creator or ultimate source of the universe.
2. the Supreme Being according to a particular religion or conception:

   She called upon Allah, the God of Islam, for help.

3. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute:

   May the God of mercy comfort you.

interjection

1. (used to express disappointment, disbelief, weariness, frustration, annoyance, or the like):

   God, do we have to listen to this nonsense?

God

¹

/ ɡɒd /

noun

1. theol the sole Supreme Being, eternal, spiritual, and transcendent, who is the Creator and ruler of all and is infinite in all attributes; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
2. play God
   to behave in an imperious or superior manner

interjection

1. an oath or exclamation used to indicate surprise, annoyance, etc (and in such expressions as My God! or God Almighty! )

god

²

/ ɡɒd /

noun

1. a supernatural being, who is worshipped as the controller of some part of the universe or some aspect of life in the world or is the personification of some force divine
2. an image, idol, or symbolic representation of such a deity
3. any person or thing to which excessive attention is given

   money was his god

4. a man who has qualities regarded as making him superior to other men
5. in plural the gallery of a theatre

Other Words From

• non·god noun
• semi·god noun
• subgod noun
• under·god noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of god¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch god, German Gott, Old Norse goth, Gothic guth

Origin of god²

god ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of god¹

Old English god; related to Old Norse goth, Old High German got, Old Irish guth voice

Idioms and Phrases

• act of god
• for god's sake
• honest to god
• lap of the gods
• mills of gods grind slowly
• my god
• put the fear of god in
• so help me (god)
• thank god
• there but for the grace of god
• tin god

Example Sentences

“I was in a lot of pain and I remember hearing the air ambulance landing and I knew it was serious, but thank god they did, they saved my life,” he said.

From BBC

Scotland had been dreadful but the gods were smiling.

From BBC

"Then he got this imitation pistol out. I thought, 'oh my god'. I couldn't speak. But he didn't deserve an IPP for that."

From BBC

The president of COP29’s host country has told the UN climate conference that oil and gas are a "gift of god".

From BBC

The British actor has Jamaican roots, and the wife of reggae god Bob Marley is a hero of her mother’s.

From Los Angeles Times