compliment

[ noun kom-pluh-muhnt; verb kom-pluh-ment ]
See synonyms for: complimentcomplimentedcomplimentingcompliments on Thesaurus.com

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

  2. an act or expression of civility, respect, or regard: The mayor paid him the compliment of escorting him.

  1. compliments, a courteous greeting; good wishes; regards: He sends you his compliments.

  2. Archaic. a gift; present.

verb (used with object)
  1. to express praise, commendation, or admiration of: She complimented the child on his good behavior.

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

  1. to congratulate: They were traveling to the capital to compliment the prince on the birth of a son.

verb (used without object)
  1. to express praise, commendation, or admiration: He was known for a warm style of leadership in which he complimented and praised frequently.

Idioms about compliment

  1. compliments of, given or donated by: Begin your day with a delicious continental breakfast, compliments of your hosts.I have a mystery tomato plant growing among my squash, apparently compliments of the birds and their droppings.

Origin of compliment

1
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

confusables note For compliment

Other words for compliment

Opposites for compliment

Other words from compliment

  • com·pli·ment·a·ble, adjective
  • com·pli·ment·er, noun
  • com·pli·ment·ing·ly, adverb
  • out·com·pli·ment, verb (used with object)
  • un·com·pli·ment·ed, adjective
  • un·com·pli·ment·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with compliment

Words Nearby compliment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use compliment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for compliment

compliment

noun(ˈkɒmplɪmənt)
  1. a remark or act expressing respect, admiration, etc

  2. (usually plural) a greeting of respect or regard

verb(ˈkɒmplɪˌmɛnt) (tr)
  1. to express admiration of; congratulate or commend

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

Origin of compliment

1
C17: from French, from Italian complimento, from Spanish cumplimiento, from cumplir to complete, do what is fitting, be polite

confusable For compliment

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with compliment

compliment

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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.