Lionize
/ˈlaɪəˌnaɪz/
verbC1
Definition
Lionize means to give a person great respect and attention, as if they were a celebrity or hero. People often lionize someone because of their achievements or popularity. It is about celebrating or honoring someone publicly.
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See It in Action
To treat someone as a very important or famous person
- •The media lionized the young actor after his first big movie.
- •She was lionized by her community for her charity work.
- •The scientist was lionized at the awards ceremony for her discoveries.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'lionize' like 'praise,' but much bigger and more public—like putting someone on a stage for everyone to admire.
- ✓Picture a lion, the 'king of the jungle,' and imagine treating a person like a lion—strong, important, and admired by many.
- ✓It feels like the excitement and admiration you see when a sports star or movie star arrives and fans cheer loudly.
- ✓Sounds like 'LION-ize' → imagine turning someone into a lion, the most respected and powerful animal, to show how special they are.
- ✓Think of famous heroes or celebrities being treated like royalty or kings in stories and movies.
- ✓NOT like 'ignore' (not paying attention); lionize means giving a lot of attention and respect.
- ✓NOT like 'complain' or 'criticize'; lionize is positive, showing admiration.
- ✓NOT like 'praise' quietly; lionize is loud and public, often with many people involved.
Try Other Words
- •Celebrate: to show happiness and honor someone (Use when focusing on joy and events, like parties or ceremonies)
- •Honor: to show great respect (Use when respect is formal or serious)
- •Glorify: to make someone seem very great or perfect (Use when admiration feels very strong or even exaggerated)
- •Admire: to like and respect someone (Use when focusing on personal feelings rather than public attention)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'lion' + '-ize' (a suffix that means to make or treat like)
- •Etymology: Comes from the idea of treating someone like a lion, a symbol of power and respect
- •Historical development: Used since the 1800s in English to mean treating someone as famous or important
- •Modern usage: Often used when talking about celebrities, heroes, or public figures who receive great attention and respect
- •Key insight: The word connects the strength and importance of a lion to how people treat someone special
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be lionized unfairly? What might happen if people admire someone too much?
•How does being lionized affect a person’s behavior or feelings about themselves?
Fill in the blanks
1.The young athlete was lionized ___ winning the championship and became very popular.
2.When a person is lionized, they often receive ___ attention from the media and fans.
3.Unlike simple praise, lionize means giving someone ___ respect and admiration in public.
4.Celebrities are often lionized ___ their talents and public image.
5.People sometimes lionize others ___ forgetting their faults or mistakes.
6.To lionize someone is to treat them ___ a hero or very important figure.
7.After the award, the scientist was lionized ___ the crowd’s loud applause and cheers.