respectful

adjective

re·​spect·​ful ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
: marked by or showing respect or deference
respectfully adverb
respectfulness noun

Examples of respectful in a Sentence

the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When Marissa is first interviewed by the police, she’s lightly chided by her otherwise respectful husband for not checking a parent’s phone number against the school registry. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025 The atmosphere in the State Dining Room remained respectful, but resistance to the president’s proposal lingered. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Chad Peipho, another acquaintance of Knowlton, described him as a respectful, nice kid. David Chiu, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025 All were friendly, kind and respectful, always speaking to both Buchanan and her husband, John. Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for respectful

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of respectful was in 1593

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Respectful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respectful. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

respectful

adjective
re·​spect·​ful ri-ˈspekt-fəl How to pronounce respectful (audio)
: marked by or showing respect
a respectful manner
respectful of others
respectfully adverb
respectfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on respectful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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