reverence
1 of 2noun
rev·er·ence ˈrev-rən(t)s 
ˈre-və-;
ˈre-vərn(t)s
1
: honor or respect felt or shown : deference
especially : profound adoring awed respect
2
: a gesture of respect (such as a bow)
3
: the state of being revered
4
: one held in reverence —used as a title for a clergyman
reverence
2 of 2verb
rev·er·ence ˈrev-rən(t)s
ˈre-və-;
ˈre-vərn(t)s
reverenced; reverencing
transitive verb
: to regard or treat with reverence
reverencer noun
Synonyms
Verb
- adore
- deify
- glorify
- revere
- venerate
- worship
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The national pickle dish, kimchi, is held in such reverence that Seoul boasts a museum devoted entirely to its 160 different varieties. 
The Encyclopedia of Herbs, Spices, & Flavorings, 1992 Reverence for or worship of the dead is found in all societies, because belief in life after death is universal. World Religions, 1983 He took the command of this small party at once—the little girl and the little boy following him about with great reverence at such times as he condescended to sport with them. William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 1848 Her poems are treated with reverence by other poets. Their religion has a deep reverence for nature. Verb Only acquaintance with the great models of antiquity moves men to love and reverence the great authors of their own time … John Clive, Not By Fact Alone, 1989 It is our most fundamental political document, reverenced by all, the supposed cement of our society, yet it is read by few and understood by fewer still. David M. Kennedy, New York Times Book Review, 14 Sept. 1986 None of us like mediocrity, but we all reverence perfection. Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880 devotees coming to reverence their god See More
The Encyclopedia of Herbs, Spices, & Flavorings, 1992 Reverence for or worship of the dead is found in all societies, because belief in life after death is universal. World Religions, 1983 He took the command of this small party at once—the little girl and the little boy following him about with great reverence at such times as he condescended to sport with them. William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair, 1848 Her poems are treated with reverence by other poets. Their religion has a deep reverence for nature. Verb Only acquaintance with the great models of antiquity moves men to love and reverence the great authors of their own time … John Clive, Not By Fact Alone, 1989 It is our most fundamental political document, reverenced by all, the supposed cement of our society, yet it is read by few and understood by fewer still. David M. Kennedy, New York Times Book Review, 14 Sept. 1986 None of us like mediocrity, but we all reverence perfection. Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad, 1880 devotees coming to reverence their god See More Recent Examples on the Web Pete Caldera, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 This reverence is balanced by the constantly inventive manner in which Sorey and his bandmates turn what was a brassy, hard-bop number into something much more restrained and ruminative, but no less potent. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The atmosphere of reverence around him was quite amazing and strange. Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Men and women who understand its history bear its weight with pride and reverence. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2022 The messages have been received with a mix of excitement and reverence, as bands of teenagers pass around cellphones to read his posts. Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 Why does society treat labor pain with such reverence—and its relief with such scrutiny? Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022 At best, this reverence to the race’s 100-year history felt quaint, like watching a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2022 Soothing host Phoebe Judge unravels captivating tales with reverence in this polished production about the spectrum of crime. Simon Hill, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Aug. 2022 At the time they were made, Scandinavian societies were moving from Sun worship to reverence for gods associated with animals. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2022 A life cut short by unexpected catastrophe is reverenced. Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 6 May 2017 See More
Noun
Passing the Torch Is there a better ambassador to surpass Maris’ mark, with all the due dignity and reverence for Yankees history, than Judge? Pete Caldera, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 This reverence is balanced by the constantly inventive manner in which Sorey and his bandmates turn what was a brassy, hard-bop number into something much more restrained and ruminative, but no less potent. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 The atmosphere of reverence around him was quite amazing and strange. Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 Men and women who understand its history bear its weight with pride and reverence. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2022 The messages have been received with a mix of excitement and reverence, as bands of teenagers pass around cellphones to read his posts. Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022 Why does society treat labor pain with such reverence—and its relief with such scrutiny? Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022 At best, this reverence to the race’s 100-year history felt quaint, like watching a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 5 Aug. 2022 Soothing host Phoebe Judge unravels captivating tales with reverence in this polished production about the spectrum of crime. Simon Hill, Wired, 4 Aug. 2022 Verb
Her work is marked by a deep attentiveness to and reverence for the natural world. Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Aug. 2022 At the time they were made, Scandinavian societies were moving from Sun worship to reverence for gods associated with animals. Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2022 A life cut short by unexpected catastrophe is reverenced. Christopher Knight, latimes.com, 6 May 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens "respectful, reverent" + -ia -ia entry 1
Verb
Middle English reverencen, derivative of reverence reverence
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing reverence
Kids Definition
reverence
noun
rev·er·ence ˈre-və-rəns
ˈrev-rəns
: honor and respect often mixed with love and awe
reverencing
verb
as in venerating
to offer honor or respect to (someone) as a divine power devotees coming to reverence their god Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- venerating
- worshipping
- worshiping
- revering
- deifying
- honoring
- respecting
- admiring
- adoring
- praising
- glorifying
- loving
- exalting
- dignifying
- lionizing
- canonizing
- regarding
- extolling
- pleasing
- lauding
- delighting
- magnifying
- gratifying
- apotheosizing
- satisfying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- violating
- blaspheming
- desecrating
- profaning
- ridiculing
- insulting
- dishonoring
- scorning
- offending
- disrespecting
- slighting
- outraging
- affronting
- displeasing
- disparaging
- slandering
- smearing
- defaming
- maligning
- slurring
- piquing
- libeling
- libelling