respect

re·spect
R1E1S1P3E1C3T1
Canada, US, UK/ɹɪˈspɛkt/Australia/ɹɪˈspekt/New Zealand/ɹəˈspekt/

noun

An attitude of consideration or high regard; a feeling of admiration or esteem.

“The mourners paid their last respects to the deceased poet.”

Very commonScrabble 11

Meanings

nounrespect (countable and uncountable, plural respects)

plural respects · alternative pronunciation spelling respeck · alternative pronunciation spelling resp'ct

  1. uncountableAn attitude of consideration or high regard; a feeling of admiration or esteem.

    He is an intellectual giant, and I have great respect for him.

    1 more example

    A video of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon complaining to Russian President Vladimir Putin about his lack of respect for the countries of Central Asia that were once part of the Soviet Union has struck a nerve on social media, where it has been viewed millions of times.[…] “We have always respected the interests of our main strategic partner,” Rahmon said, referring to Russia. “We want respect, too."

    2022 October 15, “Tajik President's Demand For 'Respect' From Putin Viewed Millions Of Times On YouTube”, in Radio Free Europe, archived from the original on 17 Oct 2022

    Synonyms: deference, esteem, consideration, regard, fealty, reverence, aught

  2. uncountableGood opinion, honor, or admiration.

    Synonyms: admiration, esteem, reverence, regard, recognition, veneration, honor

  3. uncountablealways pluralPolite greetings, often offered as condolences after a death.

    The mourners paid their last respects to the deceased poet.

  4. countableA particular aspect, feature or detail of something.

    This year's model is superior to last year's in several respects.

    1 more example

    In our two loves there is but one respect

    1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 36”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC

    Synonyms: aspect, dimension, face, facet, side

  5. countableuncountableGood will; favor.

    And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Exodus 2:25
verbrespect (third-person singular simple present respects, present participle respecting, simple past and past participle respected)

present singular third person respects · participle present respecting · participle past respected · past respected · alternative pronunciation spelling respeck · alternative pronunciation spelling resp'ct

  1. To have respect for.

    She is an intellectual giant, and I respect her greatly.

    Synonyms: esteem, honor, revere, venerate, esteem, honor, idolize, lay store by · Antonyms: contemn, despect, disrespect, contemn, despect, disrespect, despise, disdain

  2. To have regard for something, to observe a custom, practice, rule or right.

    I respect your right to hold that belief, although I think it is nonsense.

    1 more example

    I respect your right to feel offended, even though most people, myself included, totally disagree and don’t find the comment offensive in the slightest.

  3. To abide by an agreement.

    They failed to respect the treaty they had signed, and invaded.

    Synonyms: honor

  4. To take notice of; to regard as worthy of special consideration; to heed.

    [T]hou reſpecteſt not ſpilling Edwards bloud: [...]

    1595 December 9 (first known performance), [William Shakespeare], The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto), London: […] Valentine Simmes for Androw Wise, […], published 1597, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]
    1 more example

    We haue also large and various Orchards, and Gardens; Wherein we doe not ſo much reſpect Beauty, as Variety of Ground and Soile, proper for diuerſe Trees and Herbs: [...]

    1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “New Atlantis. A Worke Vnfinished.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC, page 33

    Synonyms: esteem, take note, value, attend, clock, consider, give heed, heed · Antonyms: belittle, ignore, neglect, slight, assassinate, asperse, backbite, badmouth

  5. transitivedated except in "respecting"To relate to; to be concerned with.

    Whatever they are else, they are always chastisements; and correction respects faults.

    1674, John Owen, Pneumatologia
    2 more examples

    Glandulation respects the secretory vessels, which are either glandules, follicles, or utricles.

    1806, James Lee, An Introduction to Botany

    I hope I may never again be in a state of mind so unchristian as the mental frame in which I lived for some weeks, respecting the memory of Master B.

    1859 December 13, Charles Dickens, “The Mortals in the House”, in Charles Dickens, editor, The Haunted House. The Extra Christmas Number of All the Year Round […], volume II, London: […] C[harles] Whiting, […], →OCLC, page 4, column 2
  6. obsoleteTo regard; to consider; to deem.

    [T]his my friend (knowen by no name) was found, / Being then a child and ſcarce of power to ſpeake, / To whom my father gaue this name of Gaſper, / And as his own reſpected him to death, [...]

    c. 1597, Ben. Jonson, A Pleasant Comedy, Called: The Case is Alterd. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Bartholomew Sutton, and William Barrenger, […], published 1609, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]

    Synonyms: account, hold, find, account, appraise, count, esteem, see

  7. obsoleteTo look toward; to face.

    That Palladius adviſeth the front of his edifice ſhould ſo reſpect the South, that in the firſt angle it receive the riſing raies of the winter Sunne, and decline a little from the winter ſetting thereof.

    1650, Thomas Browne, “Of East and West”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 6th book, page 263

    Synonyms: face, regard

interjection

alternative pronunciation spelling respeck · alternative pronunciation spelling resp'ct

  1. Jamaicahello, hi

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn attitude of consideration or high regard; a feeling of admiration or esteem.

nounGood opinion, honor, or admiration.

nounA particular aspect, feature or detail of something.

verbTo abide by an agreement.

Similar

verbTo look toward; to face.

Similar

More synonyms by meaning

noun(usually preceded by ‘in’) a detail or point

Similar

nounthe condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)

nounan attitude of admiration or esteem

Opposite
Broader
attitudemental attitude

nouna courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard

Similar

nounbehavior intended to please your parents

Similar
Broader
filial duty

nouna feeling of friendship and esteem

Similar

nouncourteous regard for people's feelings

verbregard highly; think much of

Opposite

verbshow respect towards

Opposite
Broader

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Italic*wre-
  2. Latinre-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*speḱ-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*spéḱyeti
  5. Proto-Italic*spekjō
  6. Latinspeciō
  7. Latinrespiciō
  8. Latinrespectus
  9. Old Frenchrespect
  10. Middle Englishrespect
  11. Englishrespect

From Middle English respect, from Old French respect, also respit (“respect, regard, consideration”), from Latin respectus (“a looking at, regard, respect”), perfect passive participle of respiciō (“look at, look back upon, respect”), from re- (“back”) + speciō (“to see”), equivalent to re- + -spect. Doublet of respite. The verb is derived from the noun.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek σέβας
  • σέβας (sébas)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Arabic اِحْتِرَام, اِعْتِبَار
  • اِحْتِرَام (iḥtirām)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • اِعْتِبَار (iʕtibār)particular aspect of something
  • صَدَد (ṣadad)particular aspect of something
  • اِحْتَرَمَ (iḥtarama)to have respect for
Bengali সম্মান
  • সম্মান (śomman)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Bulgarian уваже́ние, по́чит
  • уваже́ние (uvažénie)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • по́чит (póčit)good opinion, honor, or admiration
  • зачи́тане (začítane)good opinion, honor, or admiration
  • отноше́ние (otnošénie)particular aspect of something
  • уважа́вам (uvažávam)to have respect for
  • уважа́ (uvažá)to have respect for
  • спазвам (spazvam)to abide by an agreement
  • съблюдавам (săbljudavam)to abide by an agreement
  • тача (tača)to regard as worthy of special consideration
  • зачитам (začitam)to have regard for the rights of others
Catalan respecte, respectar
  • respecteadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respectarto have respect for
Chinese Cantonese 尊重, 尊敬
  • 尊重 (zyun¹ zung⁶)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 尊敬 (zyun¹ ging³)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Chinese Mandarin 尊重, 尊敬
  • 尊重 (zūnzhòng)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 尊敬 (zūnjìng)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 方面 (fāngmiàn)particular aspect of something
  • 尊重 (zūnzhòng)to have respect for
  • 尊敬 (zūnjìng)to have respect for
  • 遵守 (zūnshǒu)to abide by an agreement
  • 重視 /重视 (zhòngshì)to regard as worthy of special consideration
  • 遵守 (zūnshǒu)to have regard for the rights of others
Czech respekt, úcta
  • respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • úctaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • vyjádření úctypolite greetings
  • ohledparticular aspect of something
  • respektovatto have respect for
  • mít úctuto have respect for
  • uznávatto abide by an agreement
  • brát ohledto have regard for the rights of others
Danish respekt, agtelse
  • respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • agtelseadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • henseendeparticular aspect of something
Dutch respect, achting
  • respectadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • achtingadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • eerbiedadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respecterento have respect for
  • eerbiedigento abide by an agreement
Esperanto respekto, respektemo
  • respektoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respektemoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • altestimoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respektito have respect for
  • altestimito have respect for
Estonian lugupidamine
  • lugupidamineadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Finnish kunnioitus, kunnioitus
  • kunnioitusadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • kunnioituspolite greetings
  • suhdeparticular aspect of something
  • kunnioittaato have respect for
  • kunnioittaato abide by an agreement
  • kunnioittaato have regard for the rights of others
French respect, respecter
  • respectadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respecterto have respect for
German Achtung, Respekt
  • Achtungadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • Respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respektierento have respect for
  • respektierento abide by an agreement
  • respektierento have regard for the rights of others
Greek σεβασμός, σέβη
  • σεβασμός (sevasmós)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • σέβη (sévi)polite greetings
  • σέβομαι (sévomai)to have respect for
  • σέβομαι (sévomai)to have regard for the rights of others
Hebrew כָּבוֹד, כיבד \ כִּבֵּד
  • כָּבוֹד (kavód)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • כיבד \ כִּבֵּד (kibéd)to have respect for
Hindi सम्मान, आदर
  • सम्मान (sammān)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • आदर (ādar)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • सम्मान (sammān)good opinion, honor, or admiration
  • सम्मान (sammān)to have respect for
  • आदर (ādar)to have respect for
Hungarian tisztelet, elismerés
  • tiszteletadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • elismerésadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • megbecsülésadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • kegyeletpolite greetings
  • tiszteletpolite greetings
  • vonatkozásparticular aspect of something
  • szempontparticular aspect of something
  • tekintetparticular aspect of something
  • tisztelto have respect for
  • respektálto have respect for
  • betartto abide by an agreement
  • tiszteletben tartto abide by an agreement
  • tekintetbe veszto regard as worthy of special consideration
  • figyelembe veszto regard as worthy of special consideration
  • elismerto have regard for the rights of others
  • tiszteletben tartto have regard for the rights of others
Icelandic virðing, virðing
  • virðingadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • virðingpolite greetings
  • leytiparticular aspect of something
  • virðato have respect for
  • bera virðingu fyrirto have respect for
  • virðato abide by an agreement
  • virðato have regard for the rights of others
Indonesian hormat
  • hormatadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Irish meas, urraim
  • measadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • urraimadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • oirmhidinadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • ómósadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • meas a bheith agat arto have respect for
Italian rispetto, rispetto
  • rispettoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • rispettogood opinion, honor, or admiration
  • riguardoparticular aspect of something
  • materiaparticular aspect of something
  • rispettareto have respect for
Japanese 尊敬, 崇敬
  • 尊敬 (sonkei)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 崇敬 (sūkei)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 尊重 (sonchō)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 重視 (jushi)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 尊敬 (sonkei)good opinion, honor, or admiration
  • 崇敬 (sūkei)good opinion, honor, or admiration
  • 点 (ten)particular aspect of something
  • 崇める (agameru)to have respect for
  • 敬う (uyamau)to have respect for
  • 尊敬する (sonkei suru)to have respect for
  • 崇敬する (sūkei suru)to have respect for
  • 尊ぶ (tōtobu)to have respect for
  • 重んずる (omonzuru)to have respect for
  • 重んじる (omonjiru)to regard as worthy of special consideration
  • 貴ぶ (tōtobu)to regard as worthy of special consideration
  • 重視する (jūshi suru)to regard as worthy of special consideration
  • 重んじる (omonjiru)to have regard for the rights of others
  • 尊重する (sonchō suru)to have regard for the rights of others
Korean 존중, 경의
  • 존중 (jonjung)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 경의 (gyeong'ui)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • 점 (jeom)particular aspect of something
  • 존경하다 (jon'gyeonghada)to have respect for
Latin respectus, observantia
  • respectusadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • observantiaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • reverentiaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respicioto have respect for
  • revereorto have respect for
  • honōrōto have respect for
  • respicioto have regard for the rights of others
Latvian cieņa
  • cieņaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Lithuanian pagarba, gerbti
  • pagarbaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • gerbtito have respect for
  • gerbtito have regard for the rights of others
Malay hormat, adab
  • hormatadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • adabadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Māori kauanuanu, whakaute
  • kauanuanuadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • whakauteadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • whakamihato have respect for
  • whakauteto have respect for
  • ngākau whakauteto have respect for
  • whakauteto have regard for the rights of others
Norwegian Bokmål respekt, respekt
  • respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respektgood opinion, honor, or admiration
  • måteparticular aspect of something
  • aspektparticular aspect of something
  • henseendeparticular aspect of something
Persian احترام گذاشتن
  • احترام گذاشتن (ehterâm gozâštan)to have respect for
Polish respekt, szacunek
  • respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • szacunekadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • estymaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • poważanieadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • uważanieadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • atencjaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • atentacjaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • szanowaćto have respect for
  • poważaćto have respect for
  • respektowaćto have respect for
  • uszanowaćto regard as worthy of special consideration
  • uszanowaćto have regard for the rights of others
Portuguese respeito, respeito
  • respeitoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respeitopolite greetings
  • reverênciapolite greetings
  • respeitoparticular aspect of something
  • respeitarto have respect for
  • respeitarto abide by an agreement
  • respeitarto have regard for the rights of others
Punjabi ਸਤਕਾਰ
  • ਸਤਕਾਰ (satkār)good opinion, honor, or admiration
Romanian respect, privință
  • respectadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • privințăparticular aspect of something
  • respectato have respect for
Russian уваже́ние, почте́ние
  • уваже́ние (uvažénije)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • почте́ние (počténije)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • отноше́ние (otnošénije)particular aspect of something
  • уважа́ть (uvažátʹ)to have respect for
  • почита́ть (počitátʹ)to have respect for
  • уважа́ть (uvažátʹ)to abide by an agreement
  • соблюда́ть (sobljudátʹ)to abide by an agreement
  • уважа́ть (uvažátʹ)to have regard for the rights of others
  • соблюда́ть (sobljudátʹ)to have regard for the rights of others
Scottish Gaelic onair, urram
  • onairadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • urramadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • suimadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Slovak rešpekt, úcta
  • rešpektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • úctaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • rešpektovaťto have respect for
  • mať úctuto have respect for
Spanish respeto, pleitesía
  • respetoadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • pleitesíaadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • respetopolite greetings
  • respetoparticular aspect of something
  • respetarto have respect for
Swahili adabu, adabu
  • adabuadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • adabupolite greetings
  • heshimuto have respect for
  • taadhimato have respect for
  • taadhimato have regard for the rights of others
  • heshimuto have regard for the rights of others
Swedish respekt, aktning
  • respektadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • aktningadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • avseendeparticular aspect of something
  • hänseendeparticular aspect of something
  • ha respekt förto have respect for
  • att respekterato abide by an agreement
  • respekterato have regard for the rights of others
Tagalog paggalang
  • paggalangadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Tamil மதிப்பு, மதி
  • மதிப்பு (matippu)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • மதி (mati)to have respect for
Thai ความเคารพ, เคารพ
  • ความเคารพ (kwaam-kao-róp)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • เคารพ (kao-róp)particular aspect of something
  • เคารพ (kao-róp)to have respect for
Turkish saygı, hürmet
  • saygıadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • hürmetadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • ihtiramadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • saygınlıkgood opinion, honor, or admiration
  • itibargood opinion, honor, or admiration
  • bakımparticular aspect of something
  • hususparticular aspect of something
  • açıparticular aspect of something
  • yönparticular aspect of something
  • saymakto have respect for
  • saygı duymakto have respect for
Ukrainian пова́га, поважа́ння
  • пова́га (pováha)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • поважа́ння (považánnja)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • поша́на (pošána)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • відно́шення (vidnóšennja)particular aspect of something
  • поважа́ти (považáty)to have respect for
  • шанува́ти (šanuváty)to have respect for
Urdu آدَر, اِحْتِرام
  • آدَر (ādar)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • اِحْتِرام (ihtirām)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Vietnamese sự tôn trọng, tôn trọng
  • sự tôn trọngadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • tôn trọngto have respect for
Welsh parch
  • parchadmiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
Yiddish דרך־ארץ, כּבֿוד
  • דרך־ארץ (derekherets)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit
  • כּבֿוד (koved)admiration for a person or entity because of perceived merit

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with respect

All rhymes →

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

respect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respect

MLA

“respect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respect. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “respect,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/respect.

Source: respect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.