What does extoll mean?
To extoll is to praise someone or something with great enthusiasm, typically in public or formal settings such as speeches, reviews, obituaries, and ceremonial writing. A critic may extoll a film's cinematography; a eulogist extols the character of the departed; a politician extolls the virtues of a policy. The word carries a connotation of elevated, wholehearted admiration rather than casual complimenting — you would not say you extolled a decent cup of coffee, but you might extol the craftsmanship of a master violin maker. It is a transitive verb, always directed at its object, and appears most often in written or prepared discourse rather than everyday conversation. The spelling varies: both "extoll" and "extol" are accepted, though the single-"l" form predominates, particularly in American English. Derived forms include the noun "extolment," meaning high praise. The word ultimately derives from Latin roots meaning "to lift up," which neatly mirrors its sense of raising someone up through words of praise. Writers reach for it when ordinary words like "praise" feel too plain for the occasion.
verbTo praise someone or something highly and enthusiastically, especially in a formal or public way.
- To praise someone or something enthusiastically and publicly; to glorify.
"The critics extolled the young pianist's interpretation as revelatory."
"In his speech, the mayor extolled the volunteers who rebuilt the flood-damaged school."
"Victorian travel writers routinely extolled the virtues of the Alpine spa towns."
The double "l" in "extoll" is a British spelling choice — Americans often drop it and write "extol" — but both spellings trace back to a Latin word meaning to lift up.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of extoll
"Extoll" entered English in the early 15th century from the Latin verb "extollere," formed from "ex-" (up) plus "tollere" (to lift or raise), so its literal sense was "to lift up." It first carried meanings of raising physically or elevating in rank before settling into its modern sense of lifting up with praise. The same Latin root underlies related English words such as "exalt" and "tolerable," reflecting the shared idea of bearing, carrying, or raising.
Related word forms
How extoll is actually used
Formal in register; common in journalism, reviews, speeches, and ceremonial writing. It is almost always used with an expressed object — the person or thing being praised. Both spellings ("extoll" and "extol") are accepted, with the single-"l" form more common overall; British usage tends to favor the doubled consonant before suffixes such as -ed and -ing.
Easily confused with extoll
"Extoll" means to praise in words, while "exalt" means to raise someone or something to a higher rank, status, or level of honor.