salute

1 of 2

verb

sa·​lute sə-ˈlüt 

saluted; saluting

transitive verb

1

a

: to address with expressions of kind wishes, courtesy, or honor

b

: to give a sign of respect, courtesy, or goodwill to : greet

2

: to become apparent to (one of the senses)

3

a

: to honor (a person, a nation, an event, etc.) by a conventional military or naval ceremony

b

: to show respect and recognition to (a military superior) by assuming a prescribed position

c

: to express commendation of : praise

intransitive verb

: to make a salute

saluter noun

salute

2 of 2

noun

1

: greeting, salutation

2

a

: a sign, token, or ceremony expressing goodwill, compliment, or respect

the festival was a salute to the arts

b

: the position (as of the hand) or the entire attitude of a person saluting a superior

3

: firecracker

Synonyms of salute

Verb

• applaud
• praise
• hail

Noun

• salutation
• greeting
• welcome

Examples of salute in a Sentence

Verb

We salute our country's soldiers.

The players saluted the fans.

The president saluted her bravery.

Noun

The officers gave the general a salute.

They raised their hands in salute.

The concert was a salute to country music legends.

Twenty-one guns were fired in salute.

We raise our glasses in salute to the newlyweds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Why Vang doesn’t say the Pledge of Allegiance When asked about Vang’s practice of abstaining from saluting the flag, her campaign spokesperson said that her past statements on the matter speak for themselves. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026

Along the journey, sidewalks were lined with people waving American flags and saluting the motorcade. —Susan Young, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026

Noun

Her biggest salute came from Tate. —Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

The remembrance included the Condor Squadron Missing Man Formation flyover, military funeral honors with a flag presentation to a Gold Star family, and a 21-gun salute by the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment. —Daily News, 25 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin salutare, from salut-, salus health, safety, greeting, from salvus safe, healthy — more at safe

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for salute

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

salute

1 of 2 verb

sa·​lute sə-ˈlüt 

saluted; saluting

1

: to greet with courteous words or a bow

2

a

: to honor by a standard military ceremony

b

: to show respect to by taking the proper position

salute an officer

saluter noun

salute

2 of 2 noun

1

: salutation sense 1, greeting

2

a

: a sign or ceremony of goodwill, compliment, or respect

b

: the position taken by a person saluting a military officer