edify
gb/ˈɛdəfˌaɪ/ us/ˈɛdəfˌaɪ/
C1
English
művel, épít
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
művel
B2
Usage pattern:
edify [someone]
The museum’s audio guide is designed to edify visitors as they move through the exhibits.
A múzeum audioguide-ját úgy tervezték, hogy a látogatók a kiállítás bejárása közben új ismereteket szerezzenek.
She writes essays that edify without preaching.
Olyan esszéket ír, amelyek művelnek anélkül, hogy prédikálnának.
Good teachers entertain and edify their students at the same time.
Learner examples
This book will edify you.
Ez a könyv sok mindenre megtanít.
The talk edified the audience.
Az előadás sokat tanított a közönségnek.
Common mistake:
Often confused with edit (change text) because they look similar but have different meanings.
Meaning
teach and improve someone
Collocations
edify readers
|edify the audience
|edify the public
|edify students
|edify others
|edify people
|edify through example
|edify through literature
|edify through instruction
|edify the mind
Synonyms
educate (More general and common; less focused on moral improvement.)
|
enlighten (Often suggests giving new insight or understanding.)
|
instruct (Emphasizes teaching facts or skills rather than personal improvement.)
Antonyms
mislead (Gives wrong ideas instead of helpful instruction.)
|
corrupt (Makes someone morally worse rather than better.)
Themes
education
|learning
|communication
Definition
to teach someone something useful and make them better or wiser
To teach someone in a way that increases their knowledge, understanding, or moral awareness.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
épít
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] edifies (more than it entertains)
The documentary edifies more than it entertains, and that’s why it works.
A dokumentumfilm inkább épít, mint szórakoztat, és épp ezért működik.
He prefers films that edify as well as amuse.
Azokat a filmeket kedveli, amelyek nemcsak szórakoztatnak, hanem építenek is.
Her columns are meant to edify, not to provoke outrage.
Learner examples
Some TV shows entertain, but they do not edify.
Néhány tévéműsor szórakoztat, de nem épít.
This article edifies and explains the topic clearly.
Ez a cikk építően hat, és világosan elmagyarázza a témát.
Common mistake:
In modern English, edify is most common in formal writing; in casual speech people often say educate or teach instead.
Meaning
give moral or intellectual benefit
Collocations
edify and entertain
|edify rather than entertain
|edify as well as amuse
|edify the reader
|edify the viewer
|edify the listener
|edify the community
|edify the faithful
Synonyms
inform (Focuses on giving facts, not necessarily improvement or uplift.)
|
uplift (Emphasizes positive moral or emotional effect more than teaching.)
Antonyms
debase (Suggests lowering moral standards or taste.)
|
pander (Aims to please without improving or informing.)
Themes
education
|media
|culture
Definition
to be helpful and teach something, not just be fun
To provide moral or intellectual improvement, especially by being informative or uplifting.
Grammar
Dictionary form
edify
IPA
GB/ˈɛdəfˌaɪ/
US/ˈɛdəfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
edi - fy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (edi)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: edify
- 3rd Person Singular: edifies
- Present Participle: edifying
- Past: edified
Word family
Forms
edifies
verb
edifying
verb
edified
verb
Core family
edification
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
unedifying
adjective
Expressions
be edified
1/bˈi ˈɛdɪfˌaɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
feel taught or improved
to feel you learned something useful
Examples
- I was edified by her explanation of the history behind the painting.
- They left the lecture feeling genuinely edified.
- If you read the footnotes, you’ll be edified.
Learner examples
- I was edified by the class.
- She felt edified after reading the article.
edify and entertain
1/ˈɛdəfˌaɪ ˈænd ˌɛntɚtˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
teach while also amusing
to teach people and make them enjoy it
Examples
- The best podcasts manage to edify and entertain in equal measure.
- Her goal is to edify and entertain readers, not to lecture them.
- The exhibition was curated to edify and entertain families.
Learner examples
- Good lessons can edify and entertain.
- The show edifies and entertains the audience.