Meaning & use
courteous
Last updated
Polite, respectful, and considerate in manner toward others.
See it in a sentence
The hotel staff were courteous and helped us with our luggage.
She gave a courteous nod to the elderly man holding the door.
A note on using this word
Courteous emphasizes good manners shown in a particular interaction, while 'polite' is more general; it often implies a slightly formal kind of respect.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “courteous”, then compare your use with the examples above.