compliment
Americannoun
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compliments
plural
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an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration.
A sincere compliment boosts one's morale.
- Antonyms:
- disparagement
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an act or expression of civility, respect, or regard.
The mayor paid him the compliment of escorting him.
-
compliments, a courteous greeting; good wishes; regards.
He sends you his compliments.
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Archaic. a gift; present.
verb (used with object)
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compliments,
present (3rd person singular)
-
complimented,
past participle, past
-
complimenting
present participle
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to express praise, commendation, or admiration of.
She complimented the child on his good behavior.
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to show kindness or regard for by a gift or other favor.
He complimented us by giving a party in our honor.
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to congratulate.
They were traveling to the capital to compliment the prince on the birth of a son.
verb (used without object)
-
compliments,
present (3rd person singular)
-
complimented,
past participle, past
-
complimenting
present participle
idioms
noun
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a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc
-
(usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard
verb
-
to express admiration of; congratulate or commend
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to express or show respect or regard for, esp by a gift
Usage
What’s the difference between compliment and complement? A compliment is a comment intended to express praise or admiration of someone. Compliment is also commonly used as a verb meaning to give a compliment. The word complement most commonly refers to something that goes along with something else and serves to make it better or complete it. It’s also commonly used as a verb meaning to serve as a complement in this way, as in That necklace really complements the rest of your outfit. Complement has many other specific meanings, but compliment is really only used to refer to a nice comment or the action of giving one. Since the primary senses of both words are generally used in positive contexts, it can be easy to confuse them. The adjective form of complement is complementary, as in complementary colors. The adjective form of compliment is complimentary, which can describe something intended to be a compliment, as in complimentary remark, or it can be used to mean that something is given for free, as in I hope we get complimentary snacks on this flight. The easiest way to remember the difference is that complement often means to complete, and complete also starts with c-o-m-p-l-e. On the other hand, compliment is spelled with an i, and compliments are something that I like to get (and give). Nice shirt, by the way. Here’s an example of compliment and complement used correctly in the same sentence. Example: The chef overheard the diners at one table complimenting the way the sauce complemented the fish, so she told the server to offer them a complimentary dessert. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between compliment and complement.
Commonly Confused
See complement.
See complement
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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complimenternoun
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outcomplimentverb (used with object)
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complimentableadjective
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uncomplimentedadjective
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uncomplimentingadjective
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complimentinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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complimentsimple
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complimentssimple
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have complimentedperfect
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has complimentedperfect
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am complimentingprogressive
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are complimentingprogressive
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is complimentingprogressive
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have been complimentingperfect progressive
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has been complimentingperfect progressive
Past
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complimentedsimple
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had complimentedperfect
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was complimentingprogressive
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were complimentingprogressive
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had been complimentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of compliment
First recorded in 1570–80; from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento “compliance or fulfillment of the forms of a courtesy,” from cumpli(r) “to complete” ( cf. comply) + -miento, noun suffix ( cf. -ment); earlier identical in spelling with complement
Explanation
A compliment is an expression of respect or admiration, like, "You're such a good writer," or "You know so many words!" Keep them coming. Compliments are always welcome, because they usually make people feel good. It’s saying something nice about someone or something. If you get mysterious flowers, look at the card – perhaps it will say “compliments of your upstairs neighbors,” as an apology for playing their music too loud all night. Or if you say, “my compliments to the chef!” you really liked your meal.
Vocabulary lists containing compliment
Some Tricky Homonyms
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"Of Mice and Men"
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The Balcony Scene from "Romeo and Juliet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Yes, it’s a big responsibility and time-consuming, but it’s also a compliment.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
Waters has taken comparisons to antifeminist activist Phyllis Schlafly as a compliment: After all, Schlafly was brilliant and confident and media savvy too.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
"I'd just run the full-back down the line so it was a bit of a compliment from him. That's how I took it anyway."
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
This is a tricky thing to say because sometimes it can sound as if you’re paying yourself a compliment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
It became a sort of boys’ paradise, and Laurie suggested that it should be called the ‘Bhaer-garten’, as a compliment to its master and appropriate to its inhabitants.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Zacharek accurately referred to Miyazaki’s narratives as “wriggly, noodle-shaped things,” and not in offering her compliments to the chef.
From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026
Jeffrey Gundlach, who runs DoubleLine Capital and does not hand out compliments like Halloween candy, put it plainly in a post on social-media platform X: “Even Lacy Hunt has turned bearish, to his credit.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Bloom’s compliments were often accompanied by complaints about himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
While the two candidates have needled each other with personal digs and insults throughout much of the campaign, they appeared to set that energy aside during the Clovis forum and even traded some compliments.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026
“The captain’s compliments, Mr. Bowditch. He’ll see you below.”
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
He complimented an Emirati journalist who asked a question, describing the man known as MBZ as a "handsome guy" whom "I can put... right now in a movie".
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
The president’s son called Navarro “my boy” and complimented him on the “jacked” physique he developed while in prison.
From Salon ● May 31, 2026
Lindsay complimented Lathan on his recent foray into stand-up comedy at the Netflix is Joke Fest at the Laugh Factory.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 16, 2026
Badenoch complimented Minaj on Friday, saying she was a fan of the Trinidad and Tobago-born rapper's song Starship.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
“You’re a fine storyteller,” the woman complimented Nhamo.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Now, she could eat whatever she wanted, just in smaller portions, and people were complimenting her looks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
“You have to really have good stuff to be able to put up good results,” Ohtani said, while complimenting the talent of the Blue Jays’ offense.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2025
Last week, she was the featured guest for an event hosted by The Free Press, whose founder, Bari Weiss, opened the conversation by complimenting Barrett’s pedicure.
From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2025
Hoffman: I also just had a thought that this interview’s going to be so annoying to read because it’s literally just going to be me and Andrew complimenting each other for however long.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2025
Coach Hedge had lost interest in the conversation—probably because it was no longer about him—and wandered toward the bow of the ship, practicing his roundhouse kicks and complimenting himself on his technique.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
