a supernatural being worshipped as having power over nature or human life, especially one of many in ancient or traditional religions
The ancient Greeks believed each god controlled a different part of the world.
A temple was built to honor the rain god of the Maya.
✦ Same origin as the proper noun sense, later generalized to any deity in polytheistic belief.
informally, a person who is greatly admired or extremely skilled at something
Fans treat the star player like a god on the basketball court.
To music lovers, she’s a guitar god with unmatched talent.
✦ Metaphoric extension of “god” to describe someone seen as almost superhuman in ability.
the single, all-powerful and all-knowing being worshipped in monotheistic religions
Every Sunday, the family prays together to God.
She thanked God for her quick recovery after the accident.
✦ Old English God, from Proto-Germanic *guthan, related to call or invoke.
used as an exclamation expressing surprise, annoyance, or emphasis
God, that was a close call!
God! I can’t believe you did that.
✦ From invoking the name of God to give force to a statement, dating back to Middle English exclamations.
