reverent

[rev-er-uhnt, rev-ruhnt]

adjective

1. feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful.

   a reverent greeting.

reverent

/ ˈrɛvərənt, ˈrɛvrənt /

adjective

1. feeling, expressing, or characterized by reverence

Other Word Forms

• reverently adverb
• reverentness noun
• nonreverent adjective
• self-reverent adjective
• unreverent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Latin reverent- (stem of reverēns ), present participle of reverērī “to fear, have reverence”; revere ¹, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverent¹

C14: from Latin reverēns respectful

Example Sentences

In the midst of the music festival’s craziness, the tent was filled with a weighted, reverent energy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The woman closes her eyes and gives a reverent nod.

Read more on Literature

Then she bowed to Svetlana, reverent and low, as if she were bowing to the tsarina herself.

Read more on Literature

He opens with the hymn “Abide With Me,” played in a reverent manner.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The singer Seph Schlueter watched his reverent ballad “Counting My Blessings” take off on Instagram in Brazil before catching fire in the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• appreciative 
• deferential 
• gracious 
• polite 
• reverential 
• solemn