li·on·ize lionizes lionizing lionized in BRIT, also use lionise If someone is lionized, they are treated as if they are very important or special by a particular group of people, often when they do not really deserve to be. By the 1920's, he was lionised by literary London The press began to lionize him enthusiastically In 1936, Max Schmeling had been lionised as boxing's great hope. lionise to treat someone as being very important or famous