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¹respect

noun re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\

: a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.

: a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way

: a particular way of thinking about or looking at something

Full Definition of RESPECT

: a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation <remarks having respect to an earlier plan>

: an act of giving particular attention : consideration

a : high or special regard : esteem

b : the quality or state of being esteemed

c plural : expressions of high or special regard or deference <paid our respects>

: particular, detail <a good plan in some respects>

— in respect of

chiefly British : with respect to : concerning

— in respect to

: with respect to : concerning

— with respect to

: with reference to : in relation to

See respect defined for English-language learners

See respect defined for kids

Examples of RESPECT

The earth's crust floats over a core of molten rock and some of its parts have a tendency to move with respect to one another. —Mario Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up, 1990
Anyway any honor sent through the mail and cashable is about the only kind I got any great respect for … —Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979
Our ragged hero wasn't a model boy in all respects. I am afraid he swore sometimes, and now and then he played tricks upon unsophisticated boys from the country, or gave a wrong direction to honest old gentlemen unused to the city. —Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick, 1868
The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good-natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect. —Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1865
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Origin of RESPECT

Middle English, from Latin respectus, literally, act of looking back, from respicere to look back, regard, from re- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to RESPECT

Synonyms: reference, regard

Antonyms: disfavor

Rhymes with RESPECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked

²respect

verb re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\

: to feel admiration for (someone or something) : to regard (someone or something) as being worthy of admiration because of good qualities

: to act in a way which shows that you are aware of (someone's rights, wishes, etc.)

: to treat or deal with (something that is good or valuable) in a proper way

Full Definition of RESPECT

transitive verb

a : to consider worthy of high regard : esteem

b : to refrain from interfering with <please respect their privacy>

: to have reference to : concern

— re·spect·er noun

See respect defined for English-language learners

Examples of RESPECT

Many other critics respect her work, but marginalize her as “the best Polish woman artist” or “the best woman artist of Eastern Europe.” —Andrew Solomon, New York Times Book Review, 21 Aug. 1994
He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. —Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado, 1846
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof … —The Constitiution of the United States of America
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Origin of RESPECT

(see ¹respect)

First Known Use: 1560

Related to RESPECT

Synonyms: appreciate, consider, esteem, regard, admire

Synonym Discussion of RESPECT

regard, respect, esteem, admire mean to recognize the worth of a person or thing. regard is a general term that is usually qualified <he is highly regarded in the profession>. respect implies a considered evaluation or estimation <after many years they came to respect her views>. esteem implies greater warmth of feeling accompanying a high valuation <no citizen of the town was more highly esteemed>. admire suggests usually enthusiastic appreciation and often deep affection <a friend that I truly admire>.

RESPECTS Defined for Kids

¹respect

noun re·spect \ri-ˈspekt\

Definition of RESPECT for Kids

: high or special regard : esteem

: thoughtfulness or consideration <“Of course, we would wait the appropriate amount of time out of respect for my brother.” — Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising>

respects plural : an expression of regard or courtesy <pay my respects>

: ¹detail 2 <Our trip was perfect in all respects.>

: relation to or concern with something specified <I'm writing with respect to your ad.>