1
: an object of extreme devotion
a movie idol
also
: ideal sense 2
2
: a representation or symbol of an object of worship
broadly
: a false god
4
: a false conception : fallacy
5
: a form or appearance visible but without substance
an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol—
P. B. Shelley
P. B. ShelleyExamples of idol in a Sentence
an actor who is the idol of millions
a movie star whose portrayal of a comic book superhero in a blockbuster series has made him the idol of millions
Recent Examples on the Web
The life of teen idol Bobby Darin In: Vietnam
David Martin
David Martin has been CBS News' national security correspondent, covering the Pentagon and the State Department, since 1993.
—David Martin, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025
After independence, locals placed Hindu idols inside the mosque and became convinced that it had been built on the former site of a Hindu temple.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The 6-year-old with a deep love for Taylor Swift never had the chance to see her idol perform.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Langlois’ choice of narrative frame to tell the tale of the torrid romance between teen pop idol Mimi (Louiza Aura) and punk icon Billie Kohler (Gio Ventura) immediately announces what kind of glittering confection his film aspires to be.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idol
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David Martin, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025
After independence, locals placed Hindu idols inside the mosque and became convinced that it had been built on the former site of a Hindu temple.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
The 6-year-old with a deep love for Taylor Swift never had the chance to see her idol perform.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Langlois’ choice of narrative frame to tell the tale of the torrid romance between teen pop idol Mimi (Louiza Aura) and punk icon Billie Kohler (Gio Ventura) immediately announces what kind of glittering confection his film aspires to be.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for idol
Cite this Entry
“Idol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idol. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
idol
noun1
: an image worshipped as a god
2
: a greatly loved and admired person or thing
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