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Meaning & use

edify

verb·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/ˈɛdɪfaɪ/
US/ˈɛdɪˌfaɪ/

Meaning

  1. verbtransitiveformal

    To teach or influence someone in a way that improves their mind, character, or morals.

    Grammar: Takes an object: the lecture edified the students.

    Patterns

    • edify someone
    • edify someone with something

    The sermon was meant to edify the congregation.

    A good documentary can edify as well as entertain.

    The museum aims to edify visitors about local history.

Word forms

third person singularedifies
past tenseedified
past participleedified
-ing formedifying

Common combinations

edify and entertain
The show tried to edify and entertain.
edify the public
The exhibit will edify the public.
edify the young
Stories were used to edify the young.
morally edifying
It was a morally edifying tale.
hardly edifying
The argument was hardly edifying.

Synonyms and how they differ

enlighten
Enlighten stresses giving understanding or knowledge, while edify adds moral or spiritual improvement.
instruct
Instruct is plainly teaching, with no suggestion of making someone better.
uplift
Uplift focuses on raising spirits, not teaching.
educate
Educate is broad and everyday, while edify sounds more formal and moral.

Opposites

corruptmislead

Word family

edifying adjective
morally or intellectually improving
edification noun
moral or intellectual improvement
edifice noun
a large building; same root
edificatory adjective
intended to improve

Commonly confused: edify or edifice? edify or edible?

edify vs edifice

Edifice is a grand building, while edify is a verb meaning to improve minds.

edify vs edible

Edible means safe to eat; it only looks similar.

Practice

The preacher hoped his talk would ___ the audience.

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