godgod /ɡɒd $ ɡɑːd/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 
1 God the spirit or being who Christians, Jews, Muslims etc pray to, and who they believe created the universe: 
Prayer is a way of talking to God. ► In this sense, God is written with a capital letter and without ‘the’: We asked God (NOT the God) to help us. Expressions containing the word God such as oh my God are common in spoken English but can offend religious people.2[countable] a male spirit or being who is believed by some religions to control the world or part of it, or who represents a particular qualitygod of Mars, the god of warRoman/Greek etc god Zeus was one of the most well-known Greek gods.3God’s gift to somebody/something someone who thinks they are perfect or extremely attractive – used to show disapproval: Paul thinks he’s God’s gift to women.4[countable] someone who is admired very much: To his fans he is a god.5[countable] something which you give too much importance or respect to: Money became his god.6the gods a)the force that some people believe controls their lives, bringing them good or bad luck: The gods are against us. b)British English informal old-fashioned the seats high up and at the back of a theatre7God/oh (my) God/good God/God almighty spoken used to emphasize what you are saying, when you are surprised, annoyed, or amused: Oh God, how embarrassing!8for God’s sake spoken used to emphasize something you are saying when you are annoyed: For God’s sake, shut up!9I swear/hope/wish/pray to God spoken used to emphasize that you promise, hope etc that something is true: I hope to God nothing goes wrong.10God forbid (that) spoken used to say that you very much hope that something will not happen: God forbid that this should ever happen again.11God (only) knows spoken a)used to show that you are annoyed because you do not know something, or because you think that something is unreasonableGod (only) knows who/what/how etc God knows what she’s doing in there. b)used to emphasize what you are saying: God knows, it hasn’t been easy.12what/how/where/who in God’s name spoken used to emphasize a question when you are angry or surprised: Where in God’s name have you been?13God help you/him etc spoken used to warn someone that something bad will happen: God help you if you spill anything on the carpet.14God help us spoken said humorously when you think that something bad is going to happen: ‘Simon’s doing the cooking.’ ‘God help us!’15honest to God spoken used to emphasize that you are not lying or joking: Honest to God, I didn’t tell her!16God willing spoken used to say that you hope there will be no problems: We’ll be moving next month, God willing.17 God bless spoken used to say that you hope someone will be safe and happy, especially when you are saying goodbye: Good night and God bless.18God give me strength! spoken used when you are becoming annoyed19there is a God! spoken said when someone is explaining that something very good happened to them at a time when they thought that their situation was very bad: In walked four gorgeous, blond Swedish boys, and I thought, ‘There is a God!’20God rest his/her soul (also God rest him/her) spoken old use used to show respect when speaking about someone who is dead21by God spoken old use used to emphasize how determined or surprised you are → there but for the grace of God at grace1(6), → in the lap of the gods at lap1(6), → play God at play1(8), → thank God/goodness/heavens at thank(2)COLLOCATIONSverbsbelieve in God· Do you believe in God?pray to God· They prayed to God for forgiveness.worship God (=show love and respect for God)· Hinduism tells everyone to worship God in his own faith.praise God· They came to the church to praise God.God exists· I believe that God exists.phrasesbelief/faith in God· About one-third of the population has no belief in God.· Her faith in God helped her deal with her illness.God’s will/the will of God (=what God wants to happen)· He believed it was God’s will that they should suffer.Almighty God/God Almighty (=used to emphasize God's power)· He swore by Almighty God to tell the truth.the word of God (=what God says)· Missionaries traveled the world to tell people the word of God.a gift from God· Life is a gift from God.God’s existence/the existence of God· Philosophers argued about the existence of God.THESAURUSgod a male spirit or being who is believed by some religions to control the world or part of it, or who represents a particular quality: · Odin was the Viking god of war.goddess a female god: · Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moondeity a god. Deity is more formal than god: · a Hindu deity· Roman deities· the Supreme Deityidol a picture or statue that people pray to as a god: · a bronze idolsomeone who does not believe in Godatheist noun, adjective someone who believes that God does not exist: · I’m a confirmed atheist.agnostic noun, adjective someone who believes that people cannot know whether God exists or not: · He was an agnostic rather than an atheist.
1 God the spirit or being who Christians, Jews, Muslims etc pray to, and who they believe created the universe: Prayer is a way of talking to God. ► In this sense, God is written with a capital letter and without ‘the’: We asked God (NOT the God) to help us. Expressions containing the word God such as oh my God are common in spoken English but can offend religious people.2[countable] a male spirit or being who is believed by some religions to control the world or part of it, or who represents a particular qualitygod of Mars, the god of warRoman/Greek etc god Zeus was one of the most well-known Greek gods.3God’s gift to somebody/something someone who thinks they are perfect or extremely attractive – used to show disapproval: Paul thinks he’s God’s gift to women.4[countable] someone who is admired very much: To his fans he is a god.5[countable] something which you give too much importance or respect to: Money became his god.6the gods a)the force that some people believe controls their lives, bringing them good or bad luck: The gods are against us. b)British English informal old-fashioned the seats high up and at the back of a theatre7God/oh (my) God/good God/God almighty spoken used to emphasize what you are saying, when you are surprised, annoyed, or amused: Oh God, how embarrassing!8for God’s sake spoken used to emphasize something you are saying when you are annoyed: For God’s sake, shut up!9I swear/hope/wish/pray to God spoken used to emphasize that you promise, hope etc that something is true: I hope to God nothing goes wrong.10God forbid (that) spoken used to say that you very much hope that something will not happen: God forbid that this should ever happen again.11God (only) knows spoken a)used to show that you are annoyed because you do not know something, or because you think that something is unreasonableGod (only) knows who/what/how etc God knows what she’s doing in there. b)used to emphasize what you are saying: God knows, it hasn’t been easy.12what/how/where/who in God’s name spoken used to emphasize a question when you are angry or surprised: Where in God’s name have you been?13God help you/him etc spoken used to warn someone that something bad will happen: God help you if you spill anything on the carpet.14God help us spoken said humorously when you think that something bad is going to happen: ‘Simon’s doing the cooking.’ ‘God help us!’15honest to God spoken used to emphasize that you are not lying or joking: Honest to God, I didn’t tell her!16God willing spoken used to say that you hope there will be no problems: We’ll be moving next month, God willing.17 God bless spoken used to say that you hope someone will be safe and happy, especially when you are saying goodbye: Good night and God bless.18God give me strength! spoken used when you are becoming annoyed19there is a God! spoken said when someone is explaining that something very good happened to them at a time when they thought that their situation was very bad: In walked four gorgeous, blond Swedish boys, and I thought, ‘There is a God!’20God rest his/her soul (also God rest him/her) spoken old use used to show respect when speaking about someone who is dead21by God spoken old use used to emphasize how determined or surprised you are → there but for the grace of God at grace1(6), → in the lap of the gods at lap1(6), → play God at play1(8), → thank God/goodness/heavens at thank(2)COLLOCATIONSverbsbelieve in God· Do you believe in God?pray to God· They prayed to God for forgiveness.worship God (=show love and respect for God)· Hinduism tells everyone to worship God in his own faith.praise God· They came to the church to praise God.God exists· I believe that God exists.phrasesbelief/faith in God· About one-third of the population has no belief in God.· Her faith in God helped her deal with her illness.God’s will/the will of God (=what God wants to happen)· He believed it was God’s will that they should suffer.Almighty God/God Almighty (=used to emphasize God's power)· He swore by Almighty God to tell the truth.the word of God (=what God says)· Missionaries traveled the world to tell people the word of God.a gift from God· Life is a gift from God.God’s existence/the existence of God· Philosophers argued about the existence of God.THESAURUSgod a male spirit or being who is believed by some religions to control the world or part of it, or who represents a particular quality: · Odin was the Viking god of war.goddess a female god: · Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moondeity a god. Deity is more formal than god: · a Hindu deity· Roman deities· the Supreme Deityidol a picture or statue that people pray to as a god: · a bronze idolsomeone who does not believe in Godatheist noun, adjective someone who believes that God does not exist: · I’m a confirmed atheist.agnostic noun, adjective someone who believes that people cannot know whether God exists or not: · He was an agnostic rather than an atheist.