Meaning & use

respectful

adjective·Everyday

Showing politeness, consideration, or high regard for someone's feelings, rights, or traditions.

See it in a sentence

The students listened in a respectful silence while the veteran told his story.

Even during the heated debate, both candidates remained respectful toward one another.

A note on using this word

"Respectful" describes behavior toward others, while "respectable" describes someone worthy of respect; the two are easily confused.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

disrespectfulrude

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “respectful”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.