Extol: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：praise highly (extol)

extol 🔊

/ɪkˈstəʊl/

vt.

To praise someone or something very highly and enthusiastically.

Extol meaning illustrated by a speaker passionately praising to an applauding audience.

praise highly 🔊

➕

/preɪz ˈhaɪli/

vt.

To express enthusiastic and very high approval or admiration for someone or something.

📁 Category：Social Roles, Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'ex-' (out) + 'tollere' (to lift/raise), meaning to lift up in praise.

💡 Mnemonic

EXTOL: EXalt TO the skies with LOud praise.

📖 Example

After the product launch, the tech reviewer extolled the new phone's camera, calling it revolutionary. 🔊 After the product launch, the tech reviewer praised the new phone's camera very highly, calling it revolutionary.

🔗 Collocations

extol the virtues of – to speak very highly about the good qualities of something

extol someone to the skies – to praise someone with extreme enthusiasm

widely extolled – praised enthusiastically by many people

🔄 Synonyms

praise (v.) – To express warm approval or admiration.

laud (v.) – To praise someone or something highly, especially in a public context.

acclaim (v.) – To praise enthusiastically and publicly.

🚫 Antonyms

criticize (v.) – To indicate the faults of someone or something in a disapproving way.

condemn (v.) – To express complete disapproval of, typically in public.

denounce (v.) – To publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

🌱 Derivatives

extoller (n.) – One who extols; a praiser.

extolment (n.) – The act of extolling; praise.

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from the Latin 'extollere' ('ex-' meaning 'out, up' + 'tollere' 'to lift'). It first appeared in English in the 15th century, specifically carrying the figurative meaning of elevating or praising someone's virtues to a high degree.