What does consecrating mean?
"Consecrating" is the present participle of "consecrate", meaning to make something — or someone — sacred through a formal act of dedication. In its dominant religious sense, it describes rites such as consecrating a church, an altar, burial ground, or a newly appointed bishop, typically performed by a senior cleric with prayers, anointing oil, and prescribed ritual. The word also extends to a broader, figurative sense: consecrating oneself or one's efforts to a cause implies wholehearted, solemn devotion, as in consecrating one's life to public service. Because it belongs chiefly to formal and liturgical language, it rarely appears in casual conversation, but it carries strong connotations of reverence, permanence, and moral seriousness. Its antonyms include desecrating and deconsecrating, the latter now commonly used when former churches are converted to secular uses. Understanding this word illuminates both religious practice and the language of deep personal commitment.
verbPresent participle of consecrate: to make or declare something sacred; to dedicate formally to a religious or solemn purpose.
- To make or declare a place, object, or person sacred by a formal religious rite (e.g. consecrating a church, altar, or bishop).
- To devote something entirely to a particular purpose, used more broadly and often figuratively (e.g. consecrating one's life to service).
"The bishop spent the morning consecrating the new chapel before the first service was held there."
"The archbishop presided over the ceremony, consecrating the cathedral's new high altar with oil and prayer."
"She spoke of consecrating her remaining years to the care of orphaned children."
When a church is 'deconsecrated', it legally stops being holy — which means consecrating a building isn't just symbolism; it changes its official religious status forever.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consecrating
The word derives from Latin "consecrare" ("to make sacred"), from "sacer" ("sacred") combined with the intensive verb-forming element related to "crare". It passed into English via Old French "consecrer" and has been used in ecclesiastical contexts since medieval times, with the verb form well established by the early modern period. Cognates sharing the same Latin root include "consecration", "sacred", and "execrate" (the opposite act of cursing rather than blessing).
Related word forms
How consecrating is actually used
Formal register, used almost exclusively in religious contexts in literal usage; figurative use ('consecrating one's life to X') carries a tone of solemn devotion. The passive sense of a place being consecrated is far more common than active use of 'consecrating' outside liturgical writing.
Easily confused with consecrating
Conserving means preserving or protecting something, while consecrating means dedicating something to a sacred purpose.