1 venerate | Definition of venerate
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venerate

verb
ven·​er·​ate | \ ˈve-nə-ˌrāt How to pronounce venerate (audio) \
venerated; venerating

Definition of venerate

transitive verb

1 : to regard with reverential respect or with admiring deference
2 : to honor (an icon, a relic, etc.) with a ritual act of devotion
Other Words from venerate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym What's the Difference Between venerate, revere, and reverence? Example Sentences Learn More about venerate

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Other Words from venerate

venerator \ ˈve-​nə-​ˌrā-​tər How to pronounce venerator (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for venerate

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling. a professor revered by her students reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring. reverenced the academy's code of honor venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age. heroes still venerated worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony. worships their memory adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment. we adored our doctor

What's the Difference Between venerate, revere, and reverence?

Venerate, revere, reverence, worship, and adore all mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully. Venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age. Revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling ("a professor revered by students"). Reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring ("she reverenced the academy's code of honor"). Worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony ("he worships their memory"). Adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment ("we adored our doctor"). Venerate, incidentally, traces back to the Latin verb venerari, from vener-, meaning "love" or "charm."

Examples of venerate in a Sentence

a writer venerated by generations of admirers She is venerated as a saint.

Recent Examples on the Web

 In a world that expects hierarchy and venerates individual genius, some musicians prefer to see their conductor not as a collaborator, but as a dominant, almost dictatorial leader. — Maya Chung, The New York Review of Books, "When Women Take the Baton," 26 Mar. 2019 Others came to venerate the teacher, prostrating at his feet. — Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, "Yoga Reconsiders the Role of the Guru in the Age of #MeToo," 23 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'venerate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of venerate

circa 1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for venerate

borrowed from Latin venerātus, past participle of Latin venerārī "to solicit the good will of (a deity), worship, pay homage to, hold in awe," verbal derivative of vener-, venus "sexual desire, qualities exciting desire, charm, (as proper noun) goddess personifying sexual attractiveness" (probably originally in cognate accusative phrase Venerem venerārī "to propitiate Venus," extended to other deities) — more at venus

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More Definitions for venerate

venerate

verb
How to pronounce venerate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of venerate

formal : to feel or show deep respect for (someone or something that is considered great, holy, etc.)

See the full definition for venerate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

venerate

verb
ven·​er·​ate | \ ˈve-nə-ˌrāt How to pronounce venerate (audio) \
venerated; venerating

Kids Definition of venerate

1 : to consider holy
2 : to show deep respect for

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More from Merriam-Webster on venerate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with venerate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for venerate

Spanish Central: Translation of venerate

Nglish: Translation of venerate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of venerate for Arabic Speakers

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