to admire someone very much► idolize also idolise British to admire someone very much, especially a famous person, so that you think everything about them is perfect: · Monroe was idolized by movie fans all over the world.· As a child, Ted idolized his father.
► revere formal to respect someone greatly for their achievements or personal qualities, especially someone in public life: revere by: · Collins was revered by his fellow countrymen.revere somebody as something: · Ondaatje is revered as one of Canada's best writers.
► worship to admire and love someone so much that you cannot see any faults in them: · She absolutely worships Elvis Presley.worship the ground somebody walks on (=to admire absolutely everything about a person): · Garvey worshipped the ground his wife walked on.
► put somebody on a pedestal to admire someone so much that you treat them or talk about them as though they are perfect -- used especially when you think someone is wrong to do this: · You shouldn't put him on a pedestal. He doesn't deserve it.· I used to put Sarah on a pedestal. Now I don't even like to be in the same room with her.
► hero-worship to greatly admire someone and want to be like them: · His fans hero-worshipped him.· The brother Ian had once hero-worshipped was now an unemployed drug addict.
great admiration for someone who is thought to be very brave, good, skilful etc – often used to show disapproval—hero-worship verb [transitive]