Worship means to show deep love, respect, and devotion to God or a deity through prayer, rituals, and ceremonies. When people worship, they might sing hymns, pray, read from sacred texts, or participate in religious services. Christians worship in churches, Muslims worship in mosques, Jews worship in synagogues, and Hindus worship in temples or at home shrines.

Different religions have different forms of worship. Some involve quiet meditation and reflection. Others include music, dancing, or elaborate ceremonies. The ancient Greeks worshipped gods like Zeus and Athena with festivals and sacrifices. Today, billions of people around the world worship according to their own faiths and traditions.

The word also appears in a less religious sense when someone admires or loves something excessively. A sports fan might worship their favorite athlete, following every game and collecting memorabilia. While this isn't literal religious worship, it captures that same intense devotion and admiration. When someone says “She worships her older brother,” they mean she looks up to him tremendously and thinks he can do no wrong.

A worshipper is someone who worships, and a place of worship is any building where religious ceremonies happen. A worship service is a planned time when people gather to worship together.