temple

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablereligion

   A building where people worship a god or gods or perform religious ceremonies.

   Grammar: Takes a plural: ancient temples. Often used with the name of a religion.

   Patterns

   • a Hindu/Jewish/Sikh temple
   • visit a temple
   • a temple in a city

   The family lit lamps at the temple before dawn.

   A small temple stood near the river, older than the town around it.

2. 2nouncountable

   The flat area on either side of the forehead, between the eye and the ear.

   Grammar: Usually singular with a possessive: her left temple; plural is common for both sides.

   Patterns

   • rub one's temples
   • a pulse at the temple
   • pain in the temples

   Stress made a dull ache pulse at his temple.

   She pressed her fingers against her temples and closed her eyes.

Word forms

Common combinations

ancient temple

Guides explained how the ancient temple was aligned with the solstice.

temple bell

We heard a temple bell echo across the valley.

rub one's temples

He rubbed his temples during the long meeting.

pounding temples

A fever left her with pounding temples and chills.

Synonyms and how they differ

shrine

A shrine is usually a smaller place for prayer or honoring a holy figure; a temple is often a larger building or complex.

church

A church is specifically Christian, while temple can refer to several religious traditions.

mosque

A mosque is a Muslim place of worship; temple is broader and not Muslim-specific.

synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish place of worship; temple may also be used in some Jewish contexts, but synagogue is the usual general term.

Commonly confused: temple or temporal? temple or chapel?

Practice

Make it your own

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

Explore more words