Extol is a verb meaning to praise highly or enthusiastically. It often appears in formal or literary contexts, describing the act of praising something or someone in a spirited or exalted way. Usage tends to be evaluative, emphasizing admiration or commendation rather than casual compliment.
"The critics extolled the new novel for its intricate plotting and lyrical prose."
"Officials extol the benefits of renewable energy during the conference."
"Fans extol the athlete’s perseverance after a record-breaking season."
"The teacher extolled the student’s diligent work and persistence."
Extol comes from the Latin extollere, meaning to raise up, to exalt. The root ex- is ‘out, thoroughly,’ and tollere ‘to raise, lift up.’ The term entered English via Middle French or Latin- influenced channels and took on a sense of lifting praise to a high degree. In English usage, extol retained the sense of lifting praise beyond ordinary endorsement, often in rhetorical or religious, ceremonial, or celebratory discourse. Early attestations in English date from the 16th century, aligning with the era’s penchant for elevated diction and Augustan-era rhetoric. Over time, extol became standard in formal writing and oratory, frequently paired with virtues, attributes, or achievements worthy of exceptional commendation. Modern use preserves its emphasis on enthusiastic, high-intensity praise, often with a slightly archaic or elevated tone. Its form remains consistent as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object that receives the praise (e.g., extol virtue, extol talents). In contemporary writing, it may appear with adverbs like highly, greatly, or ardently to intensify the commendation.
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Words that rhyme with "Extol"
-ole sounds
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Pronounce it as /ɪkˈstoʊl/ (US) or /ɪkˈstəʊl/ (UK). The stress falls on the second syllable. Start with a short, clipped 'eks' followed by a strong, rounded 'tole' with the long 'o' sound. In American English you’ll hear a clear /oʊ/ diphthong; in British English the /əʊ/ diphthong is common. The mouth shapes: /ɪ/ as a short near-close front vowel, /s/ as a hissing s, /t/ a clear stop, and /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ as the glide-dominant diphthong. Audio reference: you can listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce and Cambridge dictionary recordings.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying ex-TOL with wrong emphasis) and mispronouncing the final vowel as a short /ɒ/ or /æ/ instead of the long /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK). Another error is slurring the two consonants into a single blend, producing something like /ˈɛkstɔl/ or /ɪkˈsto˓l/. Correct it by practicing the two-syllable rhythm, ensuring the second syllable carries peak intensity and the final vowel has length and openness consistent with /oʊ/ or /əʊ/.
In US English, /ɪkˈstoʊl/ features a tense, rounded /oʊ/ in the second syllable and a rhotic influence on the preceding syllable’s vowel; in UK English, /ɪkˈstəʊl/ uses a schwa or reduced vowel before the /əʊ/ glide, giving a lighter initial vowel and a more pronounced diphthong in the second syllable; Australian speakers often approach /ɪkˈstɔːl/ with a broader, less rounded /ɔː/ in the second syllable and a slightly more centralized first syllable. All share primary stress on the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the strong diphthong in the stressed second syllable and the subtle difference between /oʊ/ (US) and /əʊ/ (UK). The initial syllable has a light, short vowel that can be easily reduced in fast speech, making the word seem shorter or slurred. Additionally, ensuring accurate lip rounding for the /o/ vowel and maintaining a crisp /l/ at the end requires deliberate articulation, especially for non-native speakers who aren’t used to two-stress- syllable words with a pronounced final vowel.
Extol is not silent. All letters contribute to the sound: the initial /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable, the /k/ cluster, the /s/ or /st/ onset, the primary stress on the vowel of the second syllable, and the /l/ at the end. Some speakers may de-emphasize the first vowel in rapid speech, but in careful pronunciation you should clearly articulate /ɪ/ and the /st/ cluster before the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/.
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