# reverend

/ˈɹɛvɝənd/ (US) · /ɹˈɛvəɹˌɛnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reverend
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a member of the clergy

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a member of the Christian clergy, such as a priest or minister.

For teachers: a member of the Christian clergy. Often used with 'the' as a formal way to refer to a minister.

- The reverend spoke to the family after the church service ended.
- The local reverend has served this parish for over thirty years, overseeing countless weddings and community events.

Usage: Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the person as a noun.

### 2. a title for clergy

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

a title used before the name of a Christian minister.

For teachers: an honorific title prefixed to the names of Christian clergy. Traditionally requires 'the' before the title in formal writing.

- The letter was addressed to the Reverend James Wilson.
- In formal correspondence, it is proper to address the envelope to the Reverend Dr. Aris, rather than using just the surname.

Usage: Usually capitalized and preceded by 'the'; often abbreviated as 'Rev.' in casual writing.

### 3. worthy of respect

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

deserving a lot of respect or honor because of age, character, or position.

For teachers: deserving of reverence or profound respect. This sense is less common in modern speech and is found mostly in older literature.

- The tribe looked to their reverend elders for advice during the crisis.
- The cathedral's reverend silence was broken only by the distant tolling of the bell at twilight.

Teaching tip: This general sense of 'worthy of respect' is rare today; learners will almost always encounter the word as a religious title.

## Examples

- The Reverend gave a moving speech at the wedding.
- After the service, the Reverend stood at the door to greet every member of the congregation personally.
- The letter was addressed to the Reverend Thomas Miller, acknowledging his decades of service to the local community and his leadership during the recent crisis.

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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.