revere
1 Americanverb (used with object)
noun
noun
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Paul, 1735–1818, American silversmith and patriot, famous for his night horseback ride, April 18, 1775, to warn Massachusetts colonists of the coming of British troops.
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a city in E Massachusetts, on Massachusetts Bay, near Boston: seaside resort.
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of revere
First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin reverērī, equivalent to re- re- + verērī “to stand in awe of, fear, feel reverence” (akin to ware 2 )
Explanation
Revere means to respect someone so deeply that you almost worship them. Many Americans revere civil rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks, who worked to make the country a more just place. Revere is related to the words reverence ("to hold something in worshipful awe") and its opposite — irreverent. Reverence for the irreverent is actually possible. Howard Stern humor is often vulgar and absurdly irreverent yet his legions of fans and even some media analysts revere him and his ability to maintain a loyal audience. Revere is the perfect word when respect is not strong enough but worship seems a little too religious-sounding. Rock stars, for example, are revered by throngs of devoted fans.
Vocabulary lists containing revere
Warm-up, List 1
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
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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.
The site is considered holy to Christians – who revere it as the site of Jesus's last Supper – and to Jews who see it as the tomb of the biblical King David.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
It blinds us to its biases, and serves as free marketing for the AI companies, who benefit when we fear and revere their creations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
His descendants revere Aegon the Conqueror so highly that he has numerous prominent namesakes.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
Iran has about 90 million people, many of whom despise the regime, many of whom revere it.
From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026
He promised to revere her as if she had been First Wife, his only wife.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
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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.