praise

PRAYZ/pɹeɪz/

Verbpraises, praising, praised

3 meanings of praise

Practice

1
noununcountable
Words that express approval of or admiration for someone or something.
The novel earned widespread praise from critics across the country.
His quiet generosity won praise from everyone who knew him.
Similaracclaim, approval, admiration, commendation, applause
Oppositeblame
2
verbtransitive
To express approval of or admiration for someone or something; to commend, glorify, or worship.
Critics praise the director for her bold visual choices.
The mayor praised the volunteers who rebuilt the flooded homes.
Similarcommend, laud, acclaim, applaud, extol
Oppositecriticize, condemn, censure, disparage
3
noununcountable
The expression of worship, glorification, and adoration directed toward a deity.
The congregation lifted their voices in praise as the choir began.
They gathered each Sunday morning to offer praise to God.
Similarworship, adoration, glorification, homage, exaltation

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Origins

Meanings 1, 3

This noun comes from Middle English praise, preyse, formed from the verb. It is a doublet of 'prize', and it replaced the native Middle English word lof (from Old English lof, “praise”).

Meaning 2

From Middle English praisen, preisen, from Old French proisier, preisier (“to value, prize”), from Late Latin pretio (“to value, prize”), from pretium (“price, worth, reward”). It displaced the native Middle English herien (from Old English herian, “to praise”).