praise

/preɪz/

Say it: PRAYZ

1. verb To express warm approval or admiration for someone or something.
The teacher praised the student for her insightful essay.
2. noun The expression of approval or admiration.
She received high praise from her boss for the successful project.
3. verb To honor or worship a deity.
The congregation sang hymns to praise the Lord.

📖 Seen in the wild

The critics were quick to praise the director's innovative film.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ praise in a sentence

The critics were unanimous in their praise for the new film.
He was quick to praise his staff when the project succeeded.
In her speech, the CEO heaped praise on the departing founder.
Honestly, I don't think the book is worthy of such high praise.
Let us praise the heroes who have sacrificed for our freedom.
The report is full of praise for the school's innovative teaching methods.
She rarely offered praise, so when she did, it meant a great deal.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

commend applaud extol laud compliment acclaim admire

commend · more formal, often for a specific, worthy action

applaud · suggests enthusiastic and often public approval

extol · very formal, implies praising in glowing, elaborate terms

laud · formal and literary, similar to extol

Opposites: criticize, condemn, blame, censure, denounce

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'praise' traveled from Latin 'pretium' (meaning 'price' or 'value') to Late Latin 'pretiare' ('to prize'). It entered English through Old French 'preisier', which meant 'to prize, to value'. Over time, the meaning shifted from simply assessing something's worth to expressing high regard for it.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

high praisesing someone's praisesworthy of praisepraise forheaped praise on

Praise is a versatile word suitable for most contexts. While a 'compliment' is typically a single, often casual remark, 'praise' suggests a more considered and significant expression of approval. Be aware that excessive or insincere praise can be perceived as flattery. It's often more effective to praise specific actions or qualities rather than just offering general praise.

Word family: praiseworthy, praising

💬 Quick answers

What does 'praise' mean?

It means to express warm approval or admiration for someone or something, either through words or actions.

What's the difference between 'praise' and 'compliment'?

A compliment is usually a specific polite remark, like 'Nice haircut!'. Praise is often broader and more significant, relating to character, effort, or achievement, like 'Your dedication to this team is incredible.'

Is 'praise' a formal word?

Praise is a neutral word that works well in both formal and informal situations. It can be used in a business report, a religious service, or a casual conversation.

What is the opposite of praise?

The most common opposites are 'criticism' or 'condemnation', which involve expressing disapproval or finding fault.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "praise" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →