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

The portions of the ceremony that salute the broadcast network programs tend to be nostalgia driven. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Duran Duran joins a small circle of acts who’ve been saluted by the Royal Mail with special stamp issues, AC/DC, The Who and Spice Girls among them. — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2026

Noun

Speaking of perfect timing, here’s a salute to Al Benton, a right-hander for four teams (also the Philadelphia A’s and Detroit Tigers) from 1934 to 1952. — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Pitmasters and Pourers returns to Elizabeth Evans Park on Saturday afternoon with eight barbecue vendors, live music, professional wrestling, college football, a salute to veterans and a drone show. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 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