compliment

[ noun kom-pluh-muhnt; verb kom-pluh-ment ]

/ noun ˈkɒm plə mənt; verb ˈkɒm pləˌmɛnt /

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noun

an expression of praise, commendation, or admiration: A sincere compliment boosts one's morale.

a formal 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.

Archaic. a gift; present.

verb (used with object)

to pay a compliment to: She complimented the child on his good behavior.

to show kindness or regard for by a gift or other favor: He complimented us by giving a party in our honor.

to congratulate; felicitate: to compliment a prince on the birth of a son.

verb (used without object)

to pay compliments.

Nearby words

Origin of compliment

1570–80; < French < Italian complimento < Spanish cumplimiento, equivalent to cumpli- (see comply) + -miento -ment; earlier identical in spelling with complement

SYNONYMS FOR compliment

1. kudos, tribute, eulogy, panegyric. 5. commend, praise, honor.

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ANTONYMS FOR compliment

1. disparagement.

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Related forms

com·pli·ment·a·ble, adjectivecom·pli·ment·er, nouncom·pli·ment·ing·ly, adverbout·com·pli·ment, verb (used with object)

un·com·pli·ment·ed, adjectiveun·com·pli·ment·ing, adjective

Can be confusedcomplement compliment (see usage note at complement)

Usage note

See complement.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for compliment

For many men, being depicted by Channing Tatum in a film about your life would be a compliment.
Wrestler Mark Schultz Hates the ‘Sickening and Insulting Lies’ of ‘Foxcatcher’|Rich Goldstein|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hawke, ever the charmer, kicks things off with a compliment: I really like you guys.
Coffee Talk with Ethan Hawke: On ‘Boyhood,’ Jennifer Lawrence, and Bill Clinton’s Urinal Exchange|Marlow Stern|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the criticism is always poorly packaged as concern or some sad excuse for a compliment.
How to Make It Through Thanksgiving Alive|Lizzie Crocker|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be the very first moment that we see on an episode of The Good Wife was quite a compliment and very humbling.
How Carrie Preston Became The Good Wife’s Favorite Scene Stealer|Kevin Fallon|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“Novelist good for nothing else,” said Samuel Beckett, and that ought to be taken as a compliment.
Nobel Prize Winner Modiano’s Magical Musical Prose About Paris|Pierre Assouline|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They returned the compliment by saying, "Good morning, brother."
The Forest King|Hervey Keyes
The Siebethal, however, showed no gratitude for the compliment, and the rain continued unremittingly.
Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland|Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
That he had no intention of even paying her the compliment of discussion.
A Bachelor Husband|Ruby M. Ayres
I acknowledged the compliment for my sex and myself with my best bow.
Household Papers and Stories|Harriet Beecher Stowe
I found him very affable and condescending, and he was pleased to compliment me on my skill in barber-craft.
Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume II|Alexander Huth

British Dictionary definitions for compliment

compliment

noun (ˈkɒmplɪmənt)

a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc

(usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard

verb (ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)

to express admiration of; congratulate or commend

to express or show respect or regard for, esp by a gift

Word Origin for compliment

C17: from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be polite

confusable

Avoid confusion with complement

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for compliment

compliment

"An act, or expression of civility, usually understood to include some hypocrisy, and to mean less than it declares" [Johnson], 1570s, complement, via French compliment (17c.), from Italian complimento "expression of respect and civility," from Vulgar Latin *complire, for Latin complere "to complete" (see complete (adj.)), via notion of "complete the obligations of politeness." Same word as complement but by a different etymological route; differentiated by spelling after 1650.

compliment

1610s, from French complimenter, from compliment (see compliment (n.)). Related: Complimented; complimenting.

Idioms and Phrases with compliment

compliment

see left-handed compliment; pay a compliment; return the compliment.

compliment

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of compliment

Usage note

Examples from the Web for compliment

compliment

noun (ˈkɒmplɪmənt)

verb (ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)

Word Origin for compliment

confusable

compliment

compliment

compliment