reverend

R1E1V4E1R1E1N1D2
/ˈɹɛvɹənd//ˈɹɛvəɹənd/

adjective

Worthy of reverence or respect.

“Near-synonyms: revered, esteemed”

Less commonScrabble 12

Meanings

reverend1

adjective

alternative obsolete reuerend

  1. Worthy of reverence or respect.

    Near-synonyms: revered, esteemed

    1 more example

    The reverend doctor will enlighten us with a lecture on the germ theory.

    Synonyms: reverable, estimable, praiseworthy, admirable, allowable, commendable, creditable, estimable

  2. Showing or granting reverence or respect.

    Synonyms: reverent

  3. PennsylvaniaWesternExtreme, extraordinary, or powerful.

    Near-synonyms: reverable, estimable

    Synonyms: reverable, estimable

nounreverend (plural reverends)

plural reverends · alternative obsolete reuerend

  1. A member of the Christian clergy; a minister.

    The esteemed reverend will enlighten us with a sermon on reconciliation.

    1 more example

    Reverend Sykes closed his sermon. He stood beside a table in front of the pulpit and requested the morning offering, a proceeding that was strange to Jem and me.

    1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC

Reverend2

nounReverend (plural Reverends)

plural Reverends

  1. ChristianityA title indicating respect, prefixed to the names of Christian clergy.
  2. Alternative letter-case form of reverend: a person who has received this designation and is entitled to use it publicly: a minister.

    Synonyms: Rev., Revd., Revd

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveShowing or granting reverence or respect.

Similar

adjectiveExtreme, extraordinary, or powerful.

nounAlternative letter-case form of reverend: a person who has received this designation and is entitled to use it publicly: a minister.

More synonyms by meaning

adjectiveworthy of adoration or reverence

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchrévérend
  2. Englishreverend

Borrowed from Middle French révérend, from Old French, from Latin future passive participle reverendus (“that is to be respected”), from deponent verb revereor (“to honor, revere”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek σεβαστός
  • σεβαστός (sebastós)worthy of reverence
Bulgarian достопочтен
  • достопочтен (dostopočten)worthy of reverence
Catalan reverend
  • reverendmember of the Christian clergy
Chinese Mandarin 牧師 /牧师
  • 牧師 /牧师 (mùshī)honorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Czech Důstojnost, Velebnost
  • Důstojnosthonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
  • Velebnosthonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Dutch eerwaarde
  • eerwaardehonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Finnish pappi
  • pappimember of the Christian clergy
French révérend, Révérend
  • révérendmember of the Christian clergy
  • Révérendhonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
German (Seiner, Euer - in reference) Hochwürden, (Seiner, Euer - in reference) Ehrwürden
  • (Seiner, Euer - in reference) Hochwürdenmember of the Christian clergy
  • (Seiner, Euer - in reference) Ehrwürdenmember of the Christian clergy
  • Hochwürdenhonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Greek αιδεσιμότατος
  • αιδεσιμότατος (aidesimótatos)honorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Icelandic séra
  • séramember of the Christian clergy
Irish urramach
  • urramachmember of the Christian clergy
Italian reverendo, reverenda
  • reverendomember of the Christian clergy
  • reverendamember of the Christian clergy
  • Reverendohonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Japanese 牧師
  • 牧師 (bokushi)honorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Korean 성직자
  • 성직자 (seongjikja)honorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Latin Reverendus
  • Reverendushonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Polish duchowny, wielebny
  • duchownymember of the Christian clergy
  • wielebnyhonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Portuguese reverendo, Reverendo
  • reverendomember of the Christian clergy
  • Reverendohonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Russian достопочте́нный, преподо́бный
  • достопочте́нный (dostopočténnyj)worthy of reverence
  • преподо́бный (prepodóbnyj)member of the Christian clergy
  • преподо́бие (prepodóbije)member of the Christian clergy
  • преподобный (prepodobnyj)honorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Scottish Gaelic urramach, Urramach
  • urramachmember of the Christian clergy
  • Urramachhonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Spanish reverendo, Reverendo
  • reverendomember of the Christian clergy
  • Reverendohonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Tagalog reberendo, Reberendo
  • reberendomember of the Christian clergy
  • Reberendohonorary title added to the names of Christian clergy
Ukrainian шано́вний, преподо́бний
  • шано́вний (šanóvnyj)worthy of reverence
  • преподо́бний (prepodóbnyj)member of the Christian clergy
  • преподо́біє (prepodóbije)member of the Christian clergy
Cite this entry
APA

reverend. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reverend

MLA

“reverend.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reverend. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reverend,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reverend.

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