god
god — noun
- godsingular
- godsplural
1. the one supreme being that followers of many religions believe created the unive
the one supreme being that followers of many religions believe created the universe and continues to influence everything that happens in it — usually written with a capital letter as God.
Ingrid prays to God every evening before she goes to sleep.
preposition: pray to God
Many people believe God created the world in seven days.
The church teaches that God loves all people equally.
Walid thanked God that nobody was hurt in the accident.
collocation: thank God
Some people believe in one God, while others believe in many gods.
contrast between capital-G and lowercase-g
- believe in God
- pray to God
- thank God
- God created
- faith in God
- worship God
- the Almighty
a formal, respectful title used mainly in religious texts and prayers
- the Creator
emphasises God's role in making the universe
- the Divine
more abstract, used in philosophical or spiritual contexts
Grammar Patterns
often with capital letter: God
Usage Note
Frequently capitalised when referring to the single supreme being in monotheistic religions such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The lowercase form 'god' is used when referring to a deity within a polytheistic system — see sense 2.
Common Mistakes
2. a spirit or being that people believe has power over a particular part of nature
a spirit or being that people believe has power over a particular part of nature or life — such as the sun, the sea, love, or war — and that people pray to or offer gifts to.
In ancient Egypt, each city had its own special god that people worshipped.
The goddess of the harvest was celebrated with songs and dances every autumn.
feminine form: goddess
Asher read a book about the Norse god Thor, who controlled thunder and lightning.
A small stone statue of the household god stood near the front door of the Roman home.
concrete object representing a deity
Fishermen on the island still offer flowers to the god of the sea before long voyages.
collocation: god of [domain]
- god of war/love/rain
- worship a god
- pagan gods
- ancient gods
- household god
Usage Note
Countable noun — you can say 'a god' or 'the gods'. Often used in the pattern 'the god/goddess of [something]' to show what domain the deity controls.
Common Mistakes
3. a person you admire so much that they seem to have perfect qualities or an extre
a person you admire so much that they seem to have perfect qualities or an extremely strong influence over your life — for example, a famous singer, a sports star, or a parent.
To his young fans, the footballer was a god who could do no wrong on the field.
Esme treats her yoga teacher like a god and copies everything she does.
collocation: treat [someone] like a god
Mizuki's grandmother is the family's god — she decides all major decisions.
In the world of fashion, the designer is treated as a god by her assistants.
passive: be treated as a god
- treat someone like a god
- be a god to someone
- worship the ground someone walks on
- idol
more common for celebrities; suggests public admiration rather than personal influence
- hero
suggests bravery or moral strength rather than perfect qualities
- role model
less intense; focuses on the person's behaviour as something to copy
Usage Note
Commonly used in the phrase 'treat someone like a god' or 'be a god to someone'. Can sound exaggerated — often used by outsiders to describe someone else's extreme admiration, rather than as a self-description.
4. something that people treat as far more important or valuable than it really is,
something that people treat as far more important or valuable than it really is, giving it an unreasonable amount of attention, respect, or money.
In that company, money has become a god — nothing else matters to the directors.
metaphorical use: money/power as a god
Pim thinks his new car is a god and spends every weekend cleaning and polishing it.
Critics say the fashion industry makes youth a god and ignores older women.
In some workplaces, speed is treated as a god and quality suffers as a result.
passive: be treated as a god (abstract noun)
- make a god of [something]
- treat [something] as a god
Usage Note
Used metaphorically to criticise what the speaker sees as misplaced values. Subject is often an abstract noun (money, youth, speed, beauty).
5. the highest rows of seats in a theatre, furthest away from the stage, where tick
the highest rows of seats in a theatre, furthest away from the stage, where tickets are usually the cheapest and the view is from above.
We could only afford tickets in the gods, but the view of the stage was still fine.
article: the gods; preposition: in the gods
Astrid climbed the steep stairs all the way up to the gods for the evening show.
The seats in the gods were packed with students who had paid very little for their tickets.
From the gods, the actors on stage looked tiny, but you could see the whole set.
viewpoint description from the gods
- in the gods
- the gods of the theatre
- up in the gods
- the balcony
American English equivalent; also used in British English for the level below the gods
- the gallery
older term, sometimes used interchangeably with the gods
Usage Note
Always used in the plural with 'the' — 'the gods'. Primarily British English. In American theatres, the equivalent is called 'the balcony' (upper balcony).
Common Mistakes
used to express strong relief that something bad did not happen or has ended.
Thank God the police arrived before anyone got hurt.
Élise found her passport just before the flight — thank goodness.
God forbid
idiomused to say that you hope something will not happen.
If, God forbid, there is a fire, please use the stairs, not the lift.
God willing
idiomused to say that you hope a future event will happen, if nothing goes wrong.
We will meet again next summer, God willing.
for God's sake
idiomused to express anger, impatience, or strong emotion when asking someone to do something.
For God's sake, turn down that music — I am trying to study.
God knows
idiomused to say that you do not know something, or to emphasise that something is true.
God knows where Hassan put the car keys — I have looked everywhere.
my God / oh my God
idiomused to express strong surprise, shock, or excitement.
My God, Constanza — you have painted the whole room by yourself!
act of God
idiomA natural event like a storm or earthquake that people cannot control.
The insurance policy does not cover damage caused by an act of God.
After the flood, the town declared it an act of God.
by God!
idiomUsed to show strong surprise or determination.
By God, I will finish this race no matter what!
By God, that was the best meal I have ever had!
for the love of God
idiomUsed to express anger or impatience.
For the love of God, please stop making that noise!
For the love of God, can you just tell me the truth?
Used to show surprise, shock, or annoyance.
My God, I cannot believe you did that!
Oh dear God, the car is completely destroyed.
God bless
idiomUsed when leaving someone to wish them safety and well-being.
Goodnight, God bless, and sleep well.
God bless you on your journey home.
Used to say you hope something will not happen.
God forbid that we should ever have another war.
Heaven forbid you get sick before the exam.
Used to say you fear someone will be in danger or trouble.
God help us if the bridge collapses.
Heaven help anyone who gets in his way.
Used to emphasize that you do not know something.
God knows where I left my keys.
Goodness knows why she said that.
Used to show respect when talking about someone who has died.
My grandfather, God rest his soul, was a kind man.
She was a great teacher, God rest her.
A person who believes they are very good at something or very attractive.
He thinks he is God's gift to the music industry.
She acts like she is God's gift to men.
Used to say you are frightened that something might happen.
Heaven forfend that we should lose our jobs.
God forfend that the children get hurt.
Used to emphasize that what you are saying is true.
Honest to God, I did not take the money.
Honest to goodness, that is exactly what happened.
Used in questions to show anger, surprise, or shock.
What in God's name are you doing?
Where in the name of Heaven have you been?
If the result of something is in the lap of the gods, you do not know what will happen because it depends on luck.
The outcome of the game is in the lap of the gods.
Whether we win or lose is in the lap of the gods.
A religious man, especially a priest or clergyman.
The man of God gave a beautiful sermon on Sunday.
He is a man of the cloth who helps the poor.
play God
idiomTo behave as if you control events or other people's lives.
Doctors should not play God by deciding who lives.
Scientists must be careful not to play God with nature.
please God
idiomUsed to say you very much hope something will or will not happen.
Please God, let the surgery be successful.
Please God, don't let it rain on our wedding day.
To make someone very frightened, especially to make them do something.
The teacher put the fear of God into the students.
His father put the fear of God into him with that threat.
so help me (God)
idiomUsed to swear that what you are saying is true, especially in court.
I swear to tell the truth, so help me God.
So help me, I will find out who did this.
Used to say you could easily have been in the same difficult situation as someone else.
Seeing the homeless man, I thought, there but for the grace of God go I.
She lost her job, and I realized there but for the grace of God go I.
Used after a verb to emphasize a hope or wish.
I wish to God I had never met him.
She prayed to Heaven for a miracle.
ye gods!
idiomUsed to show surprise or disbelief.
Ye gods, that was a huge explosion!
Ye gods, I cannot believe you said that.
Used to express happiness or relief about something that happened.
Thank goodness the rain stopped before our picnic started.
Thank heavens you arrived on time for the meeting.
god — verb
- godpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gods3rd person singular
- godding-ing form
- goddedpast simple
1. to treat a person as if they were a god, admiring them so completely that you ov
to treat a person as if they were a god, admiring them so completely that you overlook their human faults and weaknesses.
Fans who god their favourite singer forget that celebrities are ordinary people too.
transitive use: god [someone]
The biography shows how the public godded the actor during his early career.
Gita refused to god any political leader, no matter how popular they became.
Some ancient rulers were godded by their subjects after death.
passive: were godded by [someone]
Grammar Patterns
god + someone
Usage Note
Very rare in everyday speech. The synonyms 'idolise' or 'worship' are far more common. You are more likely to encounter the past participle 'godded' in literary or biographical writing.
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four terms all refer to the supreme being in monotheistic religions, but they differ in tone and context. 'God' is the everyday word — used in conversation, prayers, and writing of all levels. 'The Almighty' is a respectful title that emphasises unlimited power and authority; it appears mainly in formal prayers, hymns, and religious literature. 'The Creator' focuses on God's role in making the universe and is common in both religious and philosophical discussions about the origins of life. 'The Divine' is the most abstract of the four — it describes the quality of being godlike rather than a personal being, and appears more often in spiritual or academic contexts than in worship. For example: a believer might say 'God answered my prayer' (personal), but a theologian might write 'the Divine is present in all creation' (abstract).
Common collocations
Adverbs
Phrases
- act of God
- man of God
- house of God
Prepositions
- in (believe in God)
- to (pray to God)
- of (god of war)
Etymology
The word 'god' comes from the Old English 'god', which goes back to a very old Germanic root 'guth-' meaning 'that which is called upon' or 'that which is prayed to'. This root is shared with German 'Gott', Dutch 'God', and Old Norse 'guð'. Before the Germanic languages existed, the word is thought to connect to an ancient Indo-European root 'ǵhu-tó-' meaning 'that which is invoked'. The capitalised form 'God' appeared in English around the 9th century as Christianity spread and writers needed to distinguish the one supreme being from the many gods of other religions.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb