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⇱ RESPECT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Dictionary Definition
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1
: a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and deserves appropriate treatment or regard : consideration
showed no respect for my feelings
I expect to be treated with respect.
has no respect for the law
They taught their children a healthy respect for the dangers of the road.
2
a
: high or special regard : esteem
has earned their respect
… had to work harder to gain respect from her peers.β€”πŸ‘ Image
Katie McInerney and Jayna Bardahl
b
: the quality or state of being esteemed
an organization held in high respect
c
respects plural : expressions of high or special regard or deference
paid our respects
Please send my respects to your parents.
3
: a particular way of thinking about or looking at something
a good plan in some respects
Your theory makes sense in one respect.
4
: a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation : relevance
The questions had respect to her financial situation.

respect

2 of 2

verb

respected; respecting; respects

transitive verb

1
a
: to consider worthy of high regard : esteem
I respect what you have accomplished.
The students respected their principal for his honesty.
b
: to act in a way which shows awareness of (someone's rights, wishes, etc.)
Please respect their privacy/property/wishes.
2
a
: to treat or deal with (something good or valuable) in a proper way
We need to respect the environment.
b
: do what is required by (a law, rule, etc.)
She always respects the speed limit.
3
: to have reference to : concern
respecter noun

Synonyms of respect

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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. β€”πŸ‘ Image
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 … β€”πŸ‘ Image
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. β€”πŸ‘ Image
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. β€”πŸ‘ Image
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." β€”πŸ‘ Image
Andrew Solomon, New York Times Book Review, 21 Aug. 1994 He had a weak pointβ€”this Fortunatoβ€”although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado, 1846 Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof … β€”πŸ‘ Image
The Constitution 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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
All decisions of the judges regarding this Promotion are final and binding in all respects. β€”πŸ‘ Image
CondΓ© Nast, CondΓ© Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026 From the beginning, the emphasis centered on preparation, consistency, and respect for the emotional complexity that accompanies divorce and custody matters. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Nia Bowers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
Take one step at a time to make accomplishments that respect both your drive and their needs. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026 And this article comes out in New York magazine β€” a piece about young Hollywood actors who are just a bunch of partiers who want to be famous and don’t respect the work. β€”πŸ‘ Image
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respect

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Latin respectus, literally, act of looking back, from respicere to look back, regard, from re- + specere to look β€” more at spy

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of respect was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing respect

Rhymes for respect

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

β€œRespect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respect. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

respect

1 of 2 noun
1
: relation to or concern with something specified : reference
with respect to your last letter
2
a
: high or special regard : esteem
b
plural : expressions of regard or courtesy
pay my respects to your family
3
: detail entry 1 sense 1b
perfect in all respects

respect

2 of 2 verb
1
: to consider worthy of high regard : esteem
2
: to avoid interfering with
respected their wishes
respecter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on respect

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