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

Verb

• acclaim
• accredit
• applaud
• cheer
• crack up
• hail
• laud
• praise
• tout

Noun

• greeting
• hello
• salutation
• 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

In accepting her win for Female Artist of the Year, Wilson saluted the category’s four other nominees – Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves. —Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Alex Ovechkin, who faced Fleury in four playoff series, made sure his Washington teammates saluted Fleury after the Capitals’ last game against the Wild. Landeskog did not play in a game for the third consecutive regular season. —Rob Rossi, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Noun

Trump also returned a salute given to him by the kingdom's military officials. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025

This year's festival opened with a three-film salute to Ukraine, and the premiere of Amélie Bonnin's French romance Leave One Day. —Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 13 May 2025

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