1 God [singular] a : the perfect and all-powerful spirit or being that is worshipped especially by Christians, Jews, and Muslims as the one who created and rules the universe ▪ Does she believe in God? ▪ (May) God bless us all. ▪ (May) God rest her soul. [=I pray that God will give her soul peace now that she has died] ▪ I pray to God that no one was seriously injured in the accident. —see also man of god b ◊God is used informally by itself and in phrases to make a statement or question more forceful or to express surprise, anger, etc. These uses are common but are considered offensive by some people. ▪ God, it's hot out today. ▪ Good God, that's a lot of food! ▪ God Almighty, is it that late already? ▪ My God, what were you thinking?! ▪ Oh my God! I can't believe it! ▪ By God, I refuse to give up! ▪ For God's sake, what do you want from me? ▪ Who in God's name [=on earth, in heaven's name] could that be? ▪ Where in God's name have you been? ▪ I swear to God, if you're not ready in five minutes, I'm leaving without you. ▪ I wish to God you would stop complaining.
2 [count] : a spirit or being that has great power, strength, knowledge, etc., and that can affect nature and the lives of people : one of various spirits or beings worshipped in some religions ▪ the gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt ▪ a Hindu god ▪ a myth about the god of war ▪ an offering for the gods —often used informally to suggest that what happens to someone is controlled by gods or by luck ▪ The gods smiled/frowned on us. = The gods were/weren't on our side [=we had good/bad luck; things went well/badly for us] ▪ (humorous) The golf gods seem to like you today. [=you are playing golf very well today] ▪ Her sudden arrival was a gift from the gods. [=a very lucky and helpful thing]
3 [count] a : a person and especially a man who is greatly loved or admired ▪ a professor who was regarded as a kind of god ▪ a guitar god like Jimi Hendrix b : a person who is very important or powerful in a particular field —usually plural ▪ a talented writer who never found favor with the gods of the literary world
4 [singular] : something that is regarded as one of the most important things in someone's life ▪ He made a god of money. [=he worshipped money; he regarded money as more important than it really is]
5 the gods Brit : the highest and cheapest seats in a theater ▪ The people in the gods can be the hardest to please.