venerable
Americanadjective
-
commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character.
a venerable member of Congress.
-
a title for someone proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church to have attained the first degree of sanctity or of an Anglican archdeacon.
-
(of places, buildings, etc.) hallowed by religious, historic, or other lofty associations.
the venerable halls of the abbey.
-
impressive or interesting because of age, antique appearance, etc..
a venerable oak tree.
-
extremely old or obsolete; ancient.
a venerable automobile.
noun
adjective
-
(esp of a person) worthy of reverence on account of great age, religious associations, character, position, etc
-
(of inanimate objects) hallowed or impressive on account of historical or religious association
-
ancient
venerable tomes
-
RC Church a title bestowed on a deceased person when the first stage of his canonization has been accomplished and his holiness has been recognized in a decree of the official Church
-
Church of England a title given to an archdeacon
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of venerable
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin venerābilis, equivalent to venerā ( rī ) to venerate + -bilis -ble
Explanation
To be venerable is to be admired and respected because of your status or age. You become venerable by achieving great things or just by living long enough. The adjective venerable means "admired" and "respected" — it should describe how you feel about old folks and bosses, for example. It describes the wise old man at the top of the mountain who tells you the meaning of life. As a noun, the Venerable refers to someone high up in a religion, usually Christian. In fact, Saint Bede, who is sometimes called the Father of English History, is often referred to as Bede the Venerable.
Vocabulary lists containing venerable
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 Top "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“I am a bit of a romantic fabulist,” says the venerable Mexican singer-songwriter Julieta Venegas in her new memoir, “Norteña: Memorias del Comienzo.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026
The "Costume Art" exhibit, which opens on May 10 at the venerable museum in Manhattan, will seek to explore the "dressed body" in artworks across the centuries.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
Investigators discovered a link to Bagur, who is a business coach rival of Dini's as well as being the 69-year-old "venerable master" of the Athanor lodge.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
Not only does she talk, but she recites venerable nursery rhymes, backward.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
It made him feel like an old-timer, venerable.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
