houses of worship

Meaning

1. 1nounpluralreligion

   Buildings where people gather for religious services, including churches, mosques, temples and synagogues.

   Grammar: Plural of house of worship: houses, not house, take the plural.

   Patterns

   • houses of worship in a place
   • protect houses of worship

   Local houses of worship opened their doors to people left homeless by the storm.

   The law requires security at houses of worship during holidays.

   Houses of worship of many faiths line the main road.

Common combinations

attend houses of worship

Many families attend houses of worship on weekends.

protect houses of worship

Police plan to protect houses of worship during the holiday.

local houses of worship

Local houses of worship organized a food drive.

attacks on houses of worship

Attacks on houses of worship are condemned by all faiths.

houses of worship and schools

The grants support houses of worship and schools.

Synonyms and how they differ

places of worship

Places of worship is nearly identical but slightly broader, since it can include outdoor sites.

religious buildings

Religious buildings can include monasteries and shrines that are not mainly used for services, so it is wider than houses of worship.

churches

Churches refers to Christian buildings only, while houses of worship covers every faith.

Word family

house of worship noun

the singular form

worship verb

to show religious devotion

worshipper noun

a person who worships

worshipful adjective

showing deep respect or devotion

Commonly confused: houses of worship or places of worship?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “houses of worship”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words