If you describe people or actions as honourable, you mean that they are good and deserve to be respected and admired.
I believe he was an honourable man, dedicated to the people and his union.
However, their intentions are honourable.
Synonyms: proper, right, respectable, righteous More Synonyms of honourable
honourably (ɒnrəbli)adverb [usually ADVERB with verb]
He also felt she had not behaved honorably in the leadership election.
2. adjective
Honourable is used as a title before the names of some members of the nobility, judges, and some other officials.
...the Honourable Mr Justice Swinton Thomas.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
In debates in the British parliament, one member of parliament refers to another as the honourable member, the honourable gentleman, the honourable lady, or their honourable friend.
...the Honourable Member for Billericay.
More Synonyms of honourable
honourable in British English
or US honorable (ˈɒnərəbəl, ˈɒnrəbəl)
adjective
1.
possessing or characterized by high principles
honourable intentions
2.
worthy of or entitled to honour or esteem
3.
consistent with or bestowing honour
Derived forms
honourableness (ˈhonourableness) or US honorableness (ˈhonorableness)
noun
honourably (ˈhonourably) or US honorably (ˈhonorably)
adverb
Honourable in British English
or US Honorable (ˈɒnərəbəl, ˈɒnrəbəl)
adjective
the Honourable
Examples of 'honourable' in a sentence
honourable
She should do the honourable thing and resign.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is a dignified man, an honourable man.
The Sun (2016)
With honourable exceptions, pounding the streets has been replaced by pounding the keyboard.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
And it was all in stark contrast to the efforts of honourable members in Westminster.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An honourable and dignified man.
The Sun (2016)
Exactly how open does an honourable member have to be?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The honourable thing to do now would be to resign.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He knocked me out but it was an honourable defeat.
The Sun (2010)
He should do the honourable thing and resign.
The Sun (2012)
He did it his way and must therefore do the honourable thing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But a handful deserve honourable mentions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My father was an honourable man.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
For France there were two honourable exceptions.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The treatments were top notch, but the food also deserves an honourable mention.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In many ways the Norway fiasco was an "honourable" defeat.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
He was an honourable man who loved his job and did his best for the British people.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then let's see how many honourable members we have.
The Sun (2008)
He's an honourable man who adores his family.
The Sun (2016)
And film crews following honourable Members around!
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I take on board what my honourable friend and the right honourable gentleman say.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There are some honourable exceptions.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
Everyone's at it - apart from a few notable and honourable exceptions.
The Sun (2009)
Despite honourable exceptions, the ubiquitous dramatised biography has probably been the most accident-prone arts genre.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I'm sure my right honourable friend had no real intention of comparing me to Hitler.
The Sun (2014)
BRIGHTON The seaside town deserves an honourable mention for its solid demand and good value when compared with London.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quotations
For Brutus is an honourable manWilliam ShakespeareJulius Caesar
In other languages
honourable
British English: honourable ADJECTIVE
If you describe people or actions as honourable, you mean that they are good and deserve to be respected and admired.
I believe he was an honourable man, dedicated to the people and his union.
American English: honorable
Brazilian Portuguese: honrado
Chinese: 值得敬佩的
European Spanish: honrado
French: honorable
German: ehrenwert
Italian: degno di rispetto
Japanese: 尊敬すべき
Korean: 훌륭한
European Portuguese: honrado
Latin American Spanish: honorable
All related terms of 'honourable'
Most Honourable
a courtesy title applied to marquesses and members of the Privy Council and the Order of the Bath
the Honourable
a title of respect placed before a name: employed before the names of various officials in the English-speaking world, as a courtesy title in Britain for the children of viscounts and barons and the younger sons of earls , and in Parliament by one member speaking of another
honourable mention
If something that you do in a competition is given an honourable mention , it receives special praise from the judges although it does not actually win a prize.
Right Honourable
(in Britain and certain Commonwealth countries) a title of respect for a Privy Councillor or an appeal-court judge
honourable discharge
to release or allow to go
do the decent/democratic/right/wrong/honourable thing
If, for example , you do the right thing or do the decent thing in a situation , you do something which is considered correct or socially acceptable in that situation.
Chinese translation of 'honourable'
honourable
or (US) honorable
(ˈɔnərəbl)
adj
[person, action, defeat]高尚的 (gāoshàng de)
(in parliament) 尊敬的 (zūnjìng de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
principled
I believe she is an honourable person.
Synonyms
principled
She was a strong, principled woman.
moral
The committee members are moral, competent people.
ethical
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
just
She fought honestly for a just cause and for freedom.
true
He was always true to his wife.
fair
I wanted them to get a fair deal.
upright
a very upright, trustworthy man
honest
My dad was the most honest man I have ever met.
virtuous
trustworthy
He is a trustworthy, level-headed teacher.
trusty
a trusty member of the crew
high-minded
The President's hopes were high-minded, but too vague.
upstanding
You look like a nice upstanding young man.
2 (adjective)
Definition
worthy of respect or esteem
However, their intentions are honourable.
Synonyms
proper
In those days it was not thought proper for a woman to be on the stage.
right
It's not right, leaving her like this.
respectable
He came from a respectable middle-class family.
righteous
She concluded that it was impossible to find one righteous person.
virtuous
The president is portrayed as a virtuous family man.
creditable
The band turned out quite a creditable performance.
3 (adjective)
an honourable profession
Synonyms
prestigious
It's one of the most prestigious schools in the country.
great
the great American president, Abraham Lincoln
noble
She was described by contemporaries as possessing a noble bearing and excellent manners.
noted
Chomsky's father was a noted Hebrew scholar.
The paper has never been noted for its foreign affairs coverage.
distinguished
a distinguished academic family
notable
the notable occultist, Madame Blavatsky
renowned
The area is renowned for its churches.
eminent
an eminent public figure
illustrious
the most illustrious scientists of the century
venerable
Quotation
For Brutus is an honourable man [William Shakespeare – Julius Caesar]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of creditable
Definition
deserving praise or honour
The band turned out quite a creditable performance.