Meaning & use
paying homage
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
showing deep respect or honor to someone or something, often in a formal or public way.
Grammar: Usually used after a form of 'be' or another verb: 'They are paying homage to the artist.'
Patterns
- paying homage to someone
- paying homage to something
- be paying homage
The whole city is paying homage to the firefighters who saved the neighborhood.
At the festival, dancers are paying homage to the ancient gods.
The new film is paying homage to the classic movies of the 1950s.
Word forms
| base form | pay homage |
|---|---|
| third person singular | pays homage |
| past tense | paid homage |
| past participle | paid homage |
| -ing form | paying homage |
Common combinations
- pay homage to
- Thousands gathered to pay homage to the late president.
- paying homage to the past
- The architect's design is paying homage to the past while using modern materials.
- paying homage at a shrine
- Visitors were paying homage at the shrine before dawn.
- paying homage with a moment of silence
- The team honored the coach by paying homage with a moment of silence.
- paying homage in a speech
- She was paying homage in a speech to the teachers who inspired her.
Synonyms and how they differ
- honoring
- More general and can refer to any act of respect, while 'paying homage' often suggests a formal or public gesture.
- tribute
- A tribute is a gift or act that shows respect; 'paying homage' focuses on the act of showing respect itself.
- reverence
- Reverence is a deep feeling of respect, while 'paying homage' is the outward expression of that feeling.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: paying homage or homage?
paying homage vs homage
Homage is the noun; 'paying homage' is the action of showing respect. Don't confuse with 'homely' (unattractive) or 'homage' as a literary term.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'paying homage' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition after 'paying homage' is 'to' when indicating the person or thing being honored. 'For' is used for benefit, not for the object of homage; 'at' and 'with' do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “paying homage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.