noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Very common

god

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God (noun) means a supernatural being worshipped as having power over nature or human affairs. Example: “Ancient Greek myths feature many gods and goddesses.”

noun

A supernatural being worshipped as having power over nature or human affairs.

"Ancient Greek myths feature many gods and goddesses."

"In the old legend, a god of the sea controls every storm."

"The villagers left flowers at the temple to honour their god."

Informal: someone treated as supremely important, skilled, or admired.

"To his fans, the guitarist was a living god."

"Among chess players, she is a god and nobody dares to challenge her."

"The young striker was treated like a god by the local supporters."

name

In monotheistic religions, the single supreme being and creator.

"They pray to God every evening."

How to use god

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA supreme or divine being, worshipped as all-powerful; also used loosely for anyone treated as amazing at what they do.

Common mistake

"God" (capitalized) refers to the one supreme being in monotheistic religion; lowercase "god" refers to any deity in general, such as in polytheistic mythology.

Common pairings

believe in God a god among men thank God

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: gods
Third person singular: gods
Past tense: godded

Test yourself on “god” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Ancient Greek myths feature many _____ and goddesses.

Etymology

From Old English god, an ancient Germanic word originally neuter in gender before shifting to masculine as Christianity spread — it is not related to the unrelated word "good," despite the similarity.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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creator higher power immortal the divine idol godship deity divinity manitou sky daddy sky fairy supreme being

Antonyms

devil satan

Related words

artist hero saint creation angel monster bother founder

Frequently asked questions

What does “god” mean?

The word “god” means a supernatural being worshipped as having power over nature or human affairs. In plain terms, a supreme or divine being, worshipped as all-powerful; also used loosely for anyone treated as amazing at what they do.

How do you pronounce “god”?

“God” is pronounced god (/ɡɑd/ in IPA).

How do you use “god” in a sentence?

Here is “god” used in a sentence: “Ancient Greek myths feature many gods and goddesses.”

What is another word for “god”?

Words with a similar meaning to “god” include godship, deity, divinity, manitou, sky daddy and sky fairy.

What is the opposite of “god”?

The opposite of “god” — its antonyms — are devil and satan.

What part of speech is “god”?

Depending on how it is used, “god” can be a noun and a name.

Where does the word “god” come from?

The word “god” comes from Old English. From Old English god, an ancient Germanic word originally neuter in gender before shifting to masculine as Christianity spread — it is not related to the unrelated word "good," despite the similarity.

Is “god” a common word?

“God” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between 'god' and 'God'?

The lowercase 'god' is a common noun for any deity, especially one of many in polytheistic religions — such as a god of war or the sea. Capitalized 'God' is a proper name for the single supreme being in monotheistic faiths like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The capital letter marks that specific, named deity.

What is the difference between a god and a goddess?

The distinction is grammatical gender. A 'god' traditionally refers to a male deity, while a 'goddess' refers to a female one, such as the Greek goddess Athena. In many contexts 'god' is also used broadly to cover deities of any gender, much as 'gods' can describe a whole pantheon.

What is an example of a god?

Many cultures name specific gods. In Greek mythology, Zeus is the god of the sky and king of the gods; Poseidon rules the sea. Norse myth has Thor, god of thunder. In monotheistic religions, believers worship a single God rather than many, so the word takes the capitalized proper form.

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