respect

noun

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re·spect | \ ri-ˈspekt

Definition of respect

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation remarks having respect to an earlier plan

2 : an act of giving particular attention : consideration

3a : high or special regard : esteem

b : the quality or state of being esteemed

c respects plural : expressions of high or special regard or deference paid our respects

4 : particular, detail a good plan in some respects

in respect of

chiefly British : with respect to : concerning

in respect to

: with respect to : concerning

with respect to

: with reference to : in relation to

respect

verb

re·spect | \ ri-ˈspekt

respected; respecting; respects

Definition of respect (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to consider worthy of high regard : esteem

b : to refrain from interfering with please respect their privacy

2 : to have reference to : concern

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Other Words from respect Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing respect Learn More About respect

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Synonyms for respect

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Choose the Right Synonym for respect

Verb

regard, respect, esteem, admire mean to recognize the worth of a person or thing. regard is a general term that is usually qualified. he is highly regarded in the profession respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation. after many years they came to respect her views esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation. no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection. a friend that I truly admire

Examples of respect in a Sentence

Noun The earth's crust floats over a core of molten rock and some of its parts have a tendency to move with respect to one another. — Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up, 1990 Anyway any honor sent through the mail and cashable is about the only kind I got any great respect for … — Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979 Our ragged hero wasn't a model boy in all respects. I am afraid he swore sometimes, and now and then he played tricks upon unsophisticated boys from the country, or gave a wrong direction to honest old gentlemen unused to the city. — Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick, 1868 The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect. — Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1865 He has earned their respect. The soldier saluted as a sign of respect. Despite our differences, I have enormous respect for him. I have a great respect for his accomplishments. I expect to be treated with respect. Your theory makes sense in one respect. Verb Many other critics respect her work, but marginalize her as "the best Polish woman artist" or "the best woman artist of Eastern Europe." — Andrew Solomon, New York Times Book Review, 21 Aug. 1994 He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. — Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado, 1846 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof … — The Constitiution of the United States of America The students respect the principal for his honesty. I respect what she has accomplished. You must learn to respect other people's property. We need to respect the environment. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Chali’Naru Dones, co-founder of Indigenous Peoples’ Day Newton Committee, sounded off the event by reading a Land Acknowledgement, a formal statement showing gratitude and respect toward Indigenous Peoples being the original stewards of the land. — Taylor Coester And Alanis Broussard, BostonGlobe.com, 18 May 2022 Especially with respect to domestic terrorist-style mass shootings, the answer is obvious: surveillance powered by big data, whose advancing role in our world seems unstoppable in any case. — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 17 May 2022 Take something like the position that McConnell took with respect to Merrick Garland, another former student of mine. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 17 May 2022 So that, to a degree, could allow the Celtics to put Marcus Smart defensively on Jimmy Butler and somewhat rest Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on that end on Max Strus and Gabe Vincent (with all due respect to Max and Gabe). — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 May 2022 The Fifteenth Amendment prohibited racial discrimination with respect to the right to vote. — Kermit Roosevelt Iii, Time, 16 May 2022 But with all due respect, the 6-7 Doncic is seven inches taller and 55 pounds heavier than Paul based on their height/weight measurements on the team rosters. — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, 10 May 2022 The only other artist to get the crowd on their feet that day was fellow Texan George Strait, for whom the lack of due respect would be akin to blasphemy. — Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2022 Brands need to act with gratitude and respect, now more than ever, to deliver valuable product and advertising experiences that add to their lives. — Kimberly A. Whitler, Forbes, 24 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Anyone coming into our public spaces should expect to enjoy them peacefully and must respect and exhibit basic community norms of decency. — Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 16 May 2022 Father Cullen said, adding that in his experience, these companies would rather pay fines than respect the law. — Pallabi Munsi, CNN, 9 May 2022 Leaders are fastidious about following traffic laws, and riders respect every stoplight. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2022 The importance of listening to employees and acting on their feedback takes center stage in 2022 as business leaders and people managers work to grow engagement, respect personal and professional lives, and, ultimately, boost brand loyalty. — Jason Richmond, Forbes, 6 May 2022 At the start of Monday’s council meeting, Weiss read a letter from resident Shawn Belt, who suggested that if, indeed, two surveys are sent to residents, that both council and the mayor should respect both, so as not sway the results of either. — cleveland, 6 May 2022 The highest court in the land must value evidence and respect best medical practices, and yet the conservative majority clearly doesn’t. — The Editors, Scientific American, 5 May 2022 Both women voted for Supreme Court justices nominated by former president Donald Trump, explaining that they were convinced through public and private statements that those nominees would respect existing court precedent and leave Roe in place. — Mike Debonis, Seung Min Kim, Anchorage Daily News, 4 May 2022 The Justices just respect one another far too much for any of these games. — Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 3 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'respect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Entries Near respect

respeak

respect

respectabilize

Statistics for respect

Last Updated

20 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Respect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respect. Accessed 22 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for respect

respect

noun

re·spect | \ ri-ˈspekt

Kids Definition of respect

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : high or special regard : esteem

2 : thoughtfulness or consideration "Of course, we would wait the appropriate amount of time out of respect for my brother."— Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising

3 respects plural : an expression of regard or courtesy pay my respects

4 : detail entry 1 sense 2 Our trip was perfect in all respects.

5 : relation to or concern with something specified I'm writing with respect to your ad.

respect

verb

respected; respecting

Kids Definition of respect (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to consider worthy of high regard : esteem

2 : to pay attention to We respected their wishes.