What does "idol" mean?
A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
Idol
/ˈaɪ.dl̩/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
- Grammar: idol is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: aim, arere, baal, beau ideal.
- Useful contrasts: dork, dutch god, nobody.
- Usage evidence: The rock star is an idol of the teenagers.
How to use "idol"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "idol" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "idol" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "idol" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "idol" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "idol" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aim" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "idol", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power.
"20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship deuils, and idoles of golde, and siluer, and brasse, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor heare, nor walke: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts."
- 2 a material effigy that is worshipped wordnet
- 3 A cultural icon, or especially popular person.
- 4 an ideal instance; a perfect embodiment of a concept wordnet
- 5 A popular entertainer, usually young, captivating and attractive, and often female, with an image of being close to fans.
"Tom Cruise is his idol."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 someone who is adored blindly and excessively wordnet
- 7 An eidolon or phantom; a misleading or elusive image or representation. obsolete
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The rock star is an idol of the teenagers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "idol"?
Common synonyms include: aim, arere, baal, beau ideal, big name, camash.
How do you use "idol" in a sentence?
The rock star is an idol of the teenagers.
How do you pronounce "idol"?
Pronounced /ˈaɪ.dl̩/.
Etymology
From Middle English ydole, from Old French idole, from Latin idolum, from Ancient Greek εἴδωλον (eídōlon, “image, idol”), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéydos (“seeing, image”), from *weyd- (“to see”). Doublet of aidoru, eidolon, and idolum and related to idea.