respect

American  

[ri-spekt] / rɪˈspɛkt /

noun

1. a particular, detail, or point (usually preceded byin ).

   to differ in some respect.

   Synonyms:

   matter, feature, regard

2. relation or reference.

   inquiries with respect to a route.

   Synonyms:

   connection, regard

3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability.

   I have great respect for her judgment.

   Synonyms:

   honor, homage, reverence, estimation

4. deference to a right, privilege, privileged position, or someone or something considered to have certain rights or privileges; proper acceptance or courtesy; acknowledgment.

   respect for a suspect's right to counsel; to show respect for the flag; respect for the elderly.

5. the condition of being esteemed or honored.

   to be held in respect.

6. respects, a formal expression or gesture of greeting, esteem, or friendship.

   Give my respects to your parents.

7. favor or partiality.

   Synonyms:

   preference, bias

8. Archaic. a consideration.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hold in esteem or honor.

   I cannot respect a cheat.

   Synonyms:

   admire, consider, venerate, revere

2. to show regard or consideration for.

   to respect someone's rights.

   Synonyms:

   heed

3. to refrain from intruding upon or interfering with.

   to respect a person's privacy.

4. to relate or have reference to.

idioms

1. pay one's respects,

   1. to visit in order to welcome, greet, etc..

      We paid our respects to the new neighbors.

   2. to express one's sympathy, especially to survivors following a death.

      We paid our respects to the family.

2. in respect that, because of; since.

3. in respect of, in reference to; in regard to; concerning.

4. with respect to, referring to; concerning.

   with respect to your latest request.

respect British  

/ rɪˈspɛkt /

noun

1. an attitude of deference, admiration, or esteem; regard

2. the state of being honoured or esteemed

3. a detail, point, or characteristic; particular

   he differs in some respects from his son

4. reference or relation (esp in the phrases in respect of , with respect to )

5. polite or kind regard; consideration

   respect for people's feelings

6. (often plural) an expression of esteem or regard (esp in the phrase pay one's respects )

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verb

1. to have an attitude of esteem towards; show or have respect for

   to respect one's elders

2. to pay proper attention to; not violate

   to respect Swiss neutrality

3. to show consideration for; treat courteously or kindly

4. archaic to concern or refer to

respect More Idioms  

1. see in regard (respect) to; pay a call (one's respects); with all due respect.

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Related Words

Respect, esteem, veneration imply recognition of personal qualities by approbation, deference, and more or less affection. Respect is commonly the result of admiration and approbation, together with deference: to feel respect for a great scholar. Esteem is deference combined with admiration and often with affection: to hold a friend in great esteem. Veneration is an almost religious attitude of deep respect, reverence, and love, such as we feel for persons or things of outstanding superiority, endeared by long association: veneration for one's grandparents, for noble traditions.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-respected
  adjective
• underrespected
  adjective
• unrespected
  adjective
• well-respected
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of respect

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun from Old French or directly from Latin respectus “action of looking back, consideration, regard,” equivalent to respec-, variant stem of respicere “to look back” ( re- “back” + specere “to look”) + -tus suffix of verbal action; verb from Latin respectus, past participle of respicere; see re-

Explanation

Respect is a way of treating or thinking about something or someone. If you respect your teacher, you admire her and treat her well. People respect others who are impressive for any reason, such as being in authority — like a teacher or cop — or being older — like a grandparent. You show respect by being polite and kind. For a lot of people, taking your hat off is a show of respect. When people are insulted or treated badly, they feel they haven't been treated with respect. You can respect things as well as people. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance shows respect to your country.

Example Sentences

Respect that the stock’s 50-month simple moving average is now sloping higher for the first time in five years.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Appeared in the April 15, 2026, print edition as 'Democrats Stage a Show of Respect for Al Sharpton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Current polling averages show his chief rival, Péter Magyar of the Respect and Freedom Party, more commonly referred to as Tisza, with a healthy 15-point lead that has held for most of the past year.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Respect ends up being given even by organizations that might not have acknowledged it before.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 3, 2025

And I hear a woman murmur polite old-fashioned greetings in a soft voice: “Honor.... Respect Honor.”

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

Related Words

• appreciation
• awe
• consideration
• deference
• dignity
• esteem
• fear
• honor
• recognition
• regard
• reverence
• tribute