Library / English Dictionary

RESPECT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Behavior intended to please your parents

Example:

he went to law school out of respect for his father's wishes

Synonyms:

obedience; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

filial duty (duty of a child to its parents)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard

Example:

be sure to give my respects to the dean

Synonyms:

deference; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

civility; politeness (the act of showing regard for others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "respect"):

court; homage (respectful deference)

last respects (the act of expressing respect for someone who has died)

props (proper respect)

Derivation:

respect (regard highly; think much of)

respect (show respect towards)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Courteous regard for people's feelings

Example:

out of respect for his privacy

Synonyms:

deference; respect; respectfulness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Derivation:

respect (show respect towards)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(usually preceded by 'in') a detail or point

Example:

it differs in that respect

Synonyms:

regard; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

detail; item; point (an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole)

Sense 5

Meaning:

An attitude of admiration or esteem

Example:

she lost all respect for him

Synonyms:

esteem; regard; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

attitude; mental attitude (a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "respect"):

estimate; estimation (the respect with which a person is held)

Antonym:

disrespect (a disrespectful mental attitude)

Derivation:

respect (regard highly; think much of)

respect (show respect towards)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A feeling of friendship and esteem

Example:

he inspires respect

Synonyms:

regard; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

affection; affectionateness; fondness; heart; philia; tenderness; warmheartedness; warmness (a positive feeling of liking)

Derivation:

respect (show respect towards)

Sense 7

Meaning:

The condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)

Example:

a man who has earned high regard

Synonyms:

esteem; regard; respect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("respect" is a kind of...):

honor; honour; laurels (the state of being honored)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "respect"):

stature (high level of respect gained by impressive development or achievement)

Derivation:

respect (regard highly; think much of)

respect (show respect towards)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Regard highly; think much of

Example:

We prize his creativity

Synonyms:

esteem; prise; prize; respect; value

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "respect" is one way to...):

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "respect"):

think the world of (esteem very highly)

fear; revere; reverence; venerate (regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of)

admire; look up to (feel admiration for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot respect Sue

Antonym:

disrespect (have little or no respect for; hold in contempt)

Derivation:

respecter (a person who respects someone or something; usually used in the negative)

respect (the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded))

respect (an attitude of admiration or esteem)

respect (a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Show respect towards

Example:

honor your parents!

Synonyms:

abide by; honor; honour; observe; respect

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "respect" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "respect"):

celebrate; lionise; lionize (assign great social importance to)

tolerate (recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Antonym:

disrespect (show a lack of respect for)

Derivation:

respect (a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard)

respect (courteous regard for people's feelings)

respect (an attitude of admiration or esteem)

respect (a feeling of friendship and esteem)

respect (the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded))

respecter (a person who respects someone or something; usually used in the negative)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The quantity of walking exercise I took, was not in this respect attended with its usual consequence, as the disappointment counteracted the fresh air.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I consider him with great respect.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

They treated her with more respect, she thought, took quite a tender interest in what she said, and looked at her with eyes that plainly betrayed curiosity.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

This massive man compelled one's attention and respect.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She likes you, I am sure, said I, as I stood behind his chair, and her father respects you.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

In one respect, there certainly is a difference.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He compelled them to an unremitting respect for him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I have a high respect for your nerves.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I acknowledge that her situation and her character ought to have been respected by me.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Sidney Johnson, the senior clerk, met us at the office and received us with that respect which my companion’s card always commanded.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)