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, praising 

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. 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

Other Word Forms

• praiser noun
• praiseful adjective
• praisefully adverb
• praiseless adjective
• half-praised adjective
• half-praising adjective
• outpraise verb (used with object)
• repraise verb (used with object)
• self-praise noun
• self-praising adjective
• superpraise noun
• unpraised adjective
• unpraiseful adjective
• unpraising 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

• damn with faint praise
• sing someone's praises

Synonym Study

See approve.

Example Sentences

Northern Ireland top the group after Slovakia's shock 2-0 win over Germany, and O'Neill was full of praise for Devenny, who was deployed at left wing-back instead of his more familiar midfield role.

From BBC

Republicans took a more measured tone with Kennedy, with some praising his leadership and others asking him to clarify what they described as contradictory remarks.

From BBC

Variety's Guy Lodge praised the "crushing drama" but with reservations.

From BBC

Despite rising tensions in U.S.-Mexico relations, Rubio was effusive in his praise of Mexican law enforcement efforts.

From Los Angeles Times

Some Republicans on the congressional committee praised Farage, but he received a tougher reception from Democratic representatives.

From BBC

Related Words

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