praise
prayz
Praise (noun) means Words expressing approval or admiration for someone or something. Example: “The young volunteers deserved great praise for cleaning the beach every weekend.”
noun
1
Words expressing approval or admiration for someone or something.
"The young volunteers deserved great praise for cleaning the beach every weekend."
"The chef received praise from every critic in the city."
"Her teacher's praise meant more to her than any grade."
verb
1
To express approval or admiration for someone or something.
"Visitors praised the village for its friendly welcome and beautiful gardens."
"My manager praised me in front of everyone for finishing the report early."
"The coach praised the team for their effort, even in defeat."
How to use praise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSaying good things about someone or something because they deserve it.
Common pairings
praise someone for
high praise
sing someone's praises
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Word forms
- Plural
- praises
- Third person singular
- praises
- Past tense
- praised
- Archaic forms
- praisest, praisedst, praiseth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The young volunteers deserved great _____ for cleaning the beach every weekend.
Etymology
From Old French "preisier" ("to prize" or "to value"), from Latin "pretiare," from "pretium" ("price" or "value") — making "praise" a distant cousin of "price" and "prize."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for praise
See all rhymes for praise →Frequently asked questions
What does “praise” mean?
The word “praise” means words expressing approval or admiration for someone or something. In plain terms, saying good things about someone or something because they deserve it.
How do you pronounce “praise”?
“Praise” is pronounced prayz (/pɹeɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “praise” in a sentence?
Here is “praise” used in a sentence: “The chef received praise from every critic in the city.”
What is another word for “praise”?
Words with a similar meaning to “praise” include accolade, approbation, approval, attaboy, compliment and commend.
What is the opposite of “praise”?
The opposite of “praise” — its antonyms — are blame, condemnation and criticism.
What part of speech is “praise”?
Depending on how it is used, “praise” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “praise” come from?
The word “praise” comes from Latin. From Old French "preisier" ("to prize" or "to value"), from Latin "pretiare," from "pretium" ("price" or "value") — making "praise" a distant cousin of "price" and "prize.".
Is “praise” a common word?
“Praise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'praise' and 'flattery'?
Praise is sincere approval or admiration for someone or something. Flattery is excessive or insincere praise, often given to please someone or gain an advantage rather than to express genuine feeling.
What is the difference between 'praise' and 'compliment'?
A compliment is usually a brief, specific expression of admiration made directly to someone, such as remarking on their work. Praise is broader approval that can be given publicly or about a third party, and often carries more weight or authority.
Do you say 'praise for' or 'praise of'?
You praise a person 'for' an action, as in 'she praised him for his honesty.' The phrase 'in praise of' introduces the thing being admired, as in 'a poem in praise of nature.'
Is 'praise' countable or uncountable as a noun?
'Praise' is uncountable, so it takes no plural and no 'a,' as in 'he received high praise.' Say 'a lot of praise' or 'words of praise' rather than 'a praise' or 'praises' in ordinary usage.
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