idol
gb/ˈaɪdəl/ us/ˈaɪdəl/
B1
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
famous person greatly admired
A very famous person, like a singer or actor, who many people love and admire.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an idol for [group of people]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “idol” with “idle” because they sound the same. “Idol” is a noun meaning a famous person you admire; “idle” is an adjective meaning not active or not working.
Synonyms
star (Slightly more common and general word for a very famous entertainer or sports player.)
|
icon (Suggests someone seen as a symbol of a style, era, or movement, not just popular.)
|
hero (Adds the idea of moral admiration or courage, not only fame.)
Antonyms
nobody (Informal term for a person who is not famous or important at all.)
|
unknown (Neutral term for someone who is not known to the public.)
Collocations
pop idol
|teen idol
|K-pop idol
|sports idol
|screen idol
|childhood idol
Themes
entertainment
|people
|media
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The singer became a global idol after her first hit album.
- As a teenager, he covered his bedroom walls with posters of his football idols.
- The drama turned the young actor into a household name and a teen idol overnight.
- For many young dancers, she is an idol and a role model.
- Fans waited at the airport for hours just to catch a glimpse of their K‑pop idols.
Learner examples
- Many girls in my class have a K‑pop idol.
- He was my idol when I was a child.
- The movie made her a big idol in Asia.
- Young fans followed the idol everywhere.
- My little brother’s idol is a famous football player.
Noun
B2
entity
2
person or thing deeply worshipped
A person or thing that someone loves or admires too much, almost like a god.
Usage pattern:
[someone] makes an idol of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may think “idol” is only used for famous people. It can also be used for any person or thing that someone loves or values too much, even if it is private or personal.
Synonyms
obsession (Focuses on the mental state of thinking about something too much, not on the object itself.)
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ideal (Suggests a perfect standard to aim for; less emotional and less extreme than “idol.”)
|
role model (Usually more positive and rational; someone you try to copy, not necessarily worship.)
Antonyms
dislike (General negative feeling instead of strong admiration or love.)
|
critic (Someone who finds faults rather than worshipping a person or thing.)
Collocations
personal idol
|make an idol of
|his only idol
|money is his idol
|idol of millions
Themes
emotions
|values
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- For years, his older brother was his idol, someone he could never imagine questioning.
- She treated her career as an idol, sacrificing friends and health to keep it.
- In that culture, success can easily become an idol that controls people’s choices.
- He realized he had made an idol of his own image and achievements.
- To the small town, the local teacher was more than a leader; she was an idol.
Learner examples
- As a child, my father was my idol.
- He made money his idol and lost his friends.
- She was his idol, and he copied everything she did.
- Work became his idol, and he forgot his family.
- For many students, the famous writer is an idol.
Noun
B2
entity
3
statue or image worshipped as god
A statue or picture that people pray to and worship like a god.
Usage pattern:
to worship an idol
Common mistake:
Some learners mix this meaning with the modern celebrity sense. In religious or historical texts, “idol” almost always refers to a statue or image worshipped as a god, not a pop star.
Synonyms
image (A general religious term for a representation of a holy figure; not always worshipped as a god.)
|
false god (Emphasizes religious judgment that the object is not a true deity.)
Antonyms
deity (Refers to the actual god or divine being, not the object used to represent it.)
|
iconoclasm (Abstractly opposite as the rejection or destruction of religious images and idols.)
Collocations
religious idol
|golden idol
|carved idol
|worship idols
|destroy idols
|pagan idols
Themes
religion
|culture
|history
Examples
- Pilgrims placed flowers at the feet of the stone idol.
- The ancient temple contained idols of several different gods and goddesses.
- According to the story, the prophet ordered the people to destroy their idols.
- Archaeologists discovered a small clay idol buried near the ruins of the shrine.
- The law strictly forbids making or worshipping religious idols.
Learner examples
- They prayed in front of a large idol.
- The old village had a wooden idol in the square.
- The king told the people to break their idols.
- In the story, the man bows to a gold idol.
- The museum shows idols from ancient times.
Grammar
Dictionary form
idol
IPA
GB/ˈaɪdəl/
US/ˈaɪdəl/
Syllables & stress
idol (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (idol)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: idol
- Plural: idols
Word family
Expressions
idol worship
1/ˈaɪdəl wˈɚʃɪp/
fixed phrase
worship of idols as gods
The act of worshipping idols, such as statues or images, as if they were gods.
Examples
- The text strongly criticizes idol worship and calls people to change their ways.
- Some religious leaders warned that celebrity culture was becoming a kind of modern idol worship.
make an idol of
1/mˈeɪk ən ˈaɪdəl əv/
idiom
treat as ultimate object of devotion
To love, admire, or value someone or something too much, so that it becomes the most important thing in your life.
Examples
- She warned her students not to make an idol of success.
- He had made an idol of his career and ignored his health.
pop idol
1/pˈɑp ˈaɪdəl/
fixed phrase
hugely popular pop singer
A very famous pop singer who many fans love and follow.
Examples
- The talent show turned him into a pop idol almost overnight.
- Posters of international pop idols covered her bedroom walls.
teen idol
1/tˈin ˈaɪdəl/
fixed phrase
celebrity loved mainly by teens
A famous person, usually a singer or actor, who is especially loved by teenagers.
Examples
- He started as a teen idol but later became a serious actor.
- The magazine is full of interviews with the latest teen idols.