First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1respect
noun re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\
: a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.
: a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way
: a particular way of thinking about or looking at something
Full Definition of RESPECT
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
3
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
See respect defined for English-language learners
See respect defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of RESPECT
- 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
- [+]more
Origin of RESPECT
Middle English, from Latin respectus, literally, act of looking back, from respicere to look back, regard, from re- + specere to look — more at spy
Rhymes with RESPECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
2respect
verb re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\
: to feel admiration for (someone or something) : to regard (someone or something) as being worthy of admiration because of good qualities
: to act in a way which shows that you are aware of (someone's rights, wishes, etc.)
: to treat or deal with (something that is good or valuable) in a proper way
Full Definition of RESPECT
transitive verb
1
a : to consider worthy of high regard : esteem b : to refrain from interfering with <please respect their privacy>
See respect defined for English-language learners
Examples of RESPECT
- 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
- [+]more
Origin of RESPECT
(see 1respect)
First Known Use: 1560
Related to RESPECT
- Synonyms
- appreciate, consider, esteem, regard, admire
Synonym Discussion of RESPECT
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>.
RESPECT Defined for Kids
1respect
noun re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\
Definition of RESPECT for Kids
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
: 1detail 2 <Our trip was perfect in all respects.>
5
: relation to or concern with something specified <I'm writing with respect to your ad.>
2respect
verb
re·spect·edre·spect·ing
Definition of RESPECT for Kids
1
: to consider worthy of high regard : esteem
2
: to pay attention to <We respected their wishes.>
Learn More About RESPECT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: respectabilizePrevious Word in the Dictionary: respeakAll Words Near: respect
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up respect? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).