# respect

/ɹiˈspɛkt/ (US) · /ɹɪspˈɛkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/respect
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. admiration

noun · CEFR B1

a feeling of deep admiration for someone because of their qualities or achievements.

For teachers: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

- The students have a lot of respect for their teacher because she is very fair.
- The retired diplomat commanded immense respect across the political spectrum for his role in brokering the peace treaty.

### 2. polite greetings

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

polite greetings or a way to show you are thinking of someone, especially after a death.

For teachers: polite greetings or expressions of esteem, frequently used in formal contexts or when offering condolences.

- Please give my respects to your parents when you see them this weekend.
- Hundreds of mourners gathered at the cathedral to pay their last respects to the former prime minister.

### 3. a specific detail

noun · CEFR B2

a particular detail, feature, or way of looking at something.

For teachers: a particular aspect, feature, or detail of a matter under consideration.

- The two cars are similar in many respects, but the engine is different.
- While the new policy is an improvement in some respects, it fails to address the underlying issue of funding.

### 4. to admire

verb · CEFR B1

to feel or show admiration for someone's skills or character.

For teachers: to admire someone or something deeply as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

- I really respect the way he handled that difficult customer.
- Even those who disagreed with her policies respected her unwavering commitment to her principles.

### 5. to follow rules

verb · CEFR B1

to follow a rule, a law, or someone's wishes.

For teachers: to agree to or abide by a law, rule, custom, or person's privacy and wishes.

- Visitors are asked to respect the silence of the library.
- The hikers were reminded to respect the boundaries of the private property and stay on the marked trails.

## Examples

- I have a lot of respect for my grandfather.
- The manager earned the respect of her team by always listening to their ideas and treating them fairly.
- Mutual respect is the foundation of any healthy diplomatic relationship, requiring both nations to acknowledge each other's sovereignty even when their political interests diverge.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.