Worshipping or worshiping? Both spellings are correct. The main difference is regional: worshipping is commonly used in British English, while worshiping is common in American English.
Quick Comparison Chart
| Word Form | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Base verb | worship | worship |
| -ing form | worshipping | worshiping |
| Past tense | worshipped | worshiped |
| Person | worshipper | worshiper |
The meaning stays the same. The spelling changes with the English variety or style guide.
Quick Answer
Worshipping and worshiping are both correct spellings of the -ing form of worship.
Use worshipping when following British English conventions. Use worshiping when following American English conventions.
For example:
British English: They are worshipping at the temple.
American English: They are worshiping at the temple.
The difference is spelling, not meaning.
What Does Worshipping or Worshiping Mean?
Worshipping and worshiping mean showing deep respect, devotion, or reverence toward God, a god, or another object of devotion. The verb can also describe intense admiration for a person or thing.
Oxford defines worship as showing respect for God or a god and also recognizes the figurative sense of loving or admiring someone greatly.
For example:
They are worshipping God.
They are worshiping God.
Some fans seem to be worshipping their favorite singer.
Both spellings express the same idea.
Worshipping vs. Worshiping: The Main Difference
The important difference is the spelling convention, not the definition.
| Feature | Worshipping | Worshiping |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Showing worship or devotion | Showing worship or devotion |
| Common style | British English | American English |
| Final consonant | pp | p |
| Pronunciation | Same | Same |
| Base word | worship | worship |
Cambridge lists the verb with -pp- and notes the US -p- spelling pattern.
So, it is better to think of these as regional spelling variants rather than two different words.
Why Is It Worshipping or Worshiping?
The difference comes from English spelling conventions when forming the -ing form.
The base verb is:
worship
The two established forms are:
- worship + ing → worshipping
- worship + ing → worshiping
British English commonly keeps the doubled p, while American English commonly uses the single p.
The same type of regional variation can be seen in words such as:
- travelling / traveling
- cancelling / canceling
- labelled / labeled
- fuelled / fueled
However, spelling rules are not identical for every word, so it is best to learn each established form rather than applying a doubling rule mechanically.
Worshipping or Worshiping in American English
Worshiping is the common American spelling.
For example:
They were worshiping together.
The group was worshiping God.
People were worshiping at the temple.
If your article, assignment, website, or publication follows American English, worshiping is a natural choice.
Worshipping or Worshiping in British English
Worshipping is the common British spelling.
For example:
They were worshipping together.
The group was worshipping God.
People were worshipping at the temple.
If you are writing for a UK audience, worshipping is generally the better choice.
Worshipping/Worshiping God (Including Bible Usage)
Worshipping God and worshiping God have the same meaning. They describe showing devotion, reverence, praise, or religious honor to God.
The spelling depends on the English variety being used.
For example:
They gathered for worshipping God.
They gathered for worshiping God.
The same principle applies when discussing Bible translations. If you are quoting or closely following a particular Bible edition, keep the spelling used by that edition rather than changing it simply because another English variety uses a different form.
The word worship itself has both religious and figurative meanings. Cambridge defines the religious sense as showing strong respect and admiration for God or a god, while it also gives a meaning related to loving or admiring someone greatly.
Worshipping or Worshiping Someone
The verb does not always appear in a strictly religious context.
For example:
She worships her children.
Here, worship means to love or admire someone very deeply.
The same idea can appear in the -ing form:
Some fans are worshipping their favorite celebrity.
Some fans are worshiping their favorite celebrity.
This is a figurative use. It suggests very strong admiration rather than necessarily meaning religious worship.
Worshipped or Worshiped: Which Is Correct?
Both worshipped and worshiped are correct.
- worshipped → common British spelling
- worshiped → common American spelling
Oxford lists worshipped as the main form and identifies worshiped as a North American variant. It also gives worshipping as the main -ing form and worshiping as the North American form.
Examples:
They worshipped the ancient gods.
They worshiped the ancient gods.
There is no difference in meaning.
Worshipper or Worshiper?
The same spelling difference appears in the noun.
Worshipper and worshiper both mean a person who worships God or a god.
Oxford lists worshipper and identifies worshiper as the US form.
| British English | American English |
|---|---|
| worshipper | worshiper |
| worshipping | worshiping |
| worshipped | worshiped |
For example:
The worshippers gathered at the church.
The worshipers gathered at the church.
Again, the meaning is unchanged.
What Do Major Dictionaries Say?
Dictionary evidence is useful because it confirms that these are established spelling variants rather than a simple right-versus-wrong situation.
Merriam-Webster
Merriam-Webster lists worshipped also worshiped and worshipping also worshiping. It also lists worshipper with worshiper as an alternative.
Oxford
Oxford lists worshipping as the -ing form and gives worshiping as a North American English form. It similarly lists worshipped with worshiped as the North American form.
Cambridge
Cambridge gives worshipping as the present participle and notes the US spelling pattern for the verb.
This dictionary evidence supports the key point: both forms are legitimate, but regional usage differs.
Real Search and Usage Data
Google Books Ngram Viewer tracks how words and phrases occur in a large corpus of published books. Its current system includes English, American English, and British English corpora and allows users to compare terms across time.
A useful point for this article is that Ngram is publication data, not Google search-volume data.
It should therefore be used to discuss historical book usage rather than claiming that one spelling receives more Google searches today.
For a regional comparison, the dictionary evidence is more direct: Oxford identifies worshiping as the North American form while presenting worshipping as the main form, and Cambridge likewise distinguishes the US spelling pattern.
Usage by English Variety
| English variety | Common form |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK | worshipping |
| 🇺🇸 USA | worshiping |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | worshipping is commonly encountered in British-style spelling |
| 🇮🇳 India | Both may appear; follow the chosen style |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | Both may appear; follow the chosen style |
These are style tendencies, not absolute rules. A publisher, school, dictionary, or organization may follow its own style guide.
Common Mistakes
Saying That “Worshiping” Is Wrong
This is incorrect. Worshiping is an established spelling, especially in American English. Merriam-Webster lists it as a variant of worshipping.
Saying That “Worshipping” Is Wrong
This is also incorrect. Worshipping is a standard spelling and is listed by Oxford and Cambridge.
Mixing the Forms
A document can look inconsistent if it uses:
worshipping
worshiped
worshiper
without a reason.
A cleaner approach is to choose one spelling system:
British style: worshipping, worshipped, worshipper
American style: worshiping, worshiped, worshiper
Assuming the Meaning Changes
It does not. Worshipping and worshiping describe the same action.
Examples of Worshipping and Worshiping
Religious Worship
The congregation was worshipping together.
The congregation was worshiping together.
Worshipping God
They spent the morning worshipping God.
They spent the morning worshiping God.
At a Place of Worship
The visitors were worshipping at the temple.
The visitors were worshiping at the temple.
Figurative Admiration
Fans were worshipping the famous singer.
Fans were worshiping the famous singer.
Historical Writing
The people worshipped several gods.
The people worshiped several gods.
Each pair has the same meaning. Only the spelling convention changes.
How to Choose the Right Spelling
The best approach is to identify your audience first.
Writing for a UK Audience
Use:
worshipping
and, where appropriate:
worshipped
worshipper
Writing for a US Audience
Use:
worshiping
along with:
worshiped
worshiper
Writing for an International Audience
Either spelling can be understood. The most important thing is consistency.
If your website generally follows British English, keep British spellings throughout. If it follows American English, use the American forms.
A Simple Memory Trick
Remember the three related forms together:
British English
worshipping → worshipped → worshipper
American English
worshiping → worshiped → worshiper
So, if you remember double p for the British forms and single p for the common American forms, the whole word family becomes easier to manage.
FAQs
1. Is worshipping spelled correctly?
Yes. Worshipping is a correct spelling and is commonly used in British English. Worshiping is also correct and is common in American English.
2. What is the difference between “worshiped” and “worshipped”?
Both are forms of the verb worship. Worshipped is commonly used in British English, while worshiped is common in American English.
3. What does worshipping mean?
Worshipping means showing devotion, reverence, respect, or religious honor toward God or a god. It can also describe very strong admiration for someone or something.
4. Which is correct, worshipper or worshiper?
Both are correct. Worshipper is commonly used in British English, while worshiper is the common American form.
5. What does “worshipped” mean?
Worshipped is the past tense and past participle of worship. It means that someone worshipped, revered, or showed devotion to someone or something.
6. Is “worshiped” or “worshipped” the correct spelling?
Both are correct. The preferred spelling depends on the English variety being used.
7. Who is a worshiper?
A worshiper is a person who worships God or a god. Worshipper is the common British spelling.
8. Why is worshiped spelled with one P?
Worshiped is the spelling commonly used in American English. British English commonly uses worshipped.
9. What is another word for “worshipper”?
Depending on context, possible alternatives include devotee, believer, follower, or adherent. The best synonym depends on the exact context.
Related Spelling Guides
If you are learning British and American spelling differences, these comparisons can also help:
- Travelling vs Traveling
- Cancelled vs Canceled
- Fuelled vs Fueled
- Labelled vs Labeled
Want more British vs American spelling guides? Check our full list here.
Final Verdict
Worshipping and worshiping are both correct spellings. Neither one should automatically be marked as a spelling mistake.
Choose worshipping when following British English conventions and worshiping when following American English conventions.
The same regional pattern appears in worshipped/worshiped and worshipper/worshiper.
The key is consistency. Once you choose a spelling style, use it throughout your article, essay, website, or other piece of writing.
That approach keeps your English clear, professional, and appropriate for your intended audience.
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Hi, I’m Guy Cook from spellixy.com. I create simple, helpful content and easy digital writing tips to make learning clearer and faster.
