reverential

adjective

rev·​er·​en·​tial ˌre-və-ˈren(t)-shəl How to pronounce reverential (audio)
1
: expressing or having a quality of reverence
reverential awe
2
: inspiring reverence
reverentially adverb

Examples of reverential in a Sentence

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.
Standing in front of the former CBGB, Pinn lowered his voice to a reverential register, and explained that when the club was forced to close over a rent dispute, in 2006, Hilly Kristal, its owner, put everything inside into storage, including the urinals. Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 5 May 2025 Where Swiss brands often maintain a reverential distance between creator and consumer, the Brits actively collapse this space. Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025 The fight between the two very different billionaires is emblematic of a growing culture clash in the art world, as the old guard faces off with collectors from the tech sector who tend to be less reverential toward the market’s norms. Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025 Inaba’s portrait of the human-feline relationship is reverential, an expression of devotion in its attention to detail. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for reverential

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin reverentiālis, from Latin reverentia reverence entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverential was circa 1555

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Cite this Entry

“Reverential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverential. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

reverential

adjective
rev·​er·​en·​tial ˌrev-ə-ˈren-chəl How to pronounce reverential (audio)
1
: showing or having a quality of reverence
2
: inspiring reverence
reverentially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on reverential

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