reverence

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Deep respect and admiration for someone or something, often with a feeling of awe.

   Grammar: Uncountable in this sense; followed by for: reverence for nature.

   Patterns

   • reverence for someone or something
   • treat with reverence
   • hold someone in reverence

   She spoke of her grandmother with deep reverence.

   Visitors treat the memorial with quiet reverence.

2. 2nouncountablearchaicliterary

   An act or gesture that shows deep respect.

   Grammar: Countable and archaic; survives in the phrase do reverence to someone.

   Patterns

   • do reverence to someone

   In the play, the subjects do reverence to the new king.

   He made a low reverence before the altar.

Word forms

Common combinations

deep reverence

She treats the subject with deep reverence.

reverence for life

His reverence for life shaped every decision he made.

treat with reverence

Old family letters should be treated with reverence.

hold someone in reverence

The whole town held the retired teacher in reverence.

awe and reverence

The mountains inspire awe and reverence in everyone who visits.

Synonyms and how they differ

respect

Weaker and more general; reverence adds awe and a sense of the sacred or solemn.

awe

Emphasizes wonder mixed with fear, and does not necessarily include admiration or respect.

veneration

Very formal, close to worship; suitable for saints or great figures, heavier than everyday reverence.

Opposites

Word family

revere verb

To respect and admire someone or something deeply.

reverent adjective

Showing deep respect, often quietly and solemnly.

reverential adjective

Full of reverence; a slightly more formal synonym of reverent.

irreverent adjective

Showing a lack of respect, usually in a humorous way.

Commonly confused: reverence or reverent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “reverence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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