lionize

verb

1. (British, English, Oxford, US, transitive)To treat (a person) as if they were important, or a celebrity.

   “Flare-riding is one of the most exotic and exhilarating sports in existence, and those who can dare and afford to do it are amongst the most lionized men in the Galaxy.”

   “He [Li Wenliang] died of COVID-19 in February, lionized by the Chinese public as a hero and whistleblower.”

   “In early March, a person who had a history of posting Nazi imagery shared a 21-second video lionizing Juraj Krajčík. The clip shows one of his victims lying dead on the pavement.”

   “The liberal justices lionized Kennedy and other conservatives for refusing to overturn Roe v Wade out of the need they cited in Casey to maintain the supreme court’s image.”

2. (British, English, Oxford, US, transitive)To visit (a famous place) in order to revere it.