Meaning & use
reverent
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparableformal
Showing deep and serious respect, especially toward a holy place, a sacred object or a person who is greatly admired.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after be: a reverent silence, or 'the crowd was reverent'.
Patterns
- reverent toward something
- a reverent silence
The visitors fell into a reverent silence as they entered the temple.
He spoke of his teacher in a reverent tone.
The choir sang the old hymn in a reverent, hushed way.
Word forms
| comparative | more reverent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most reverent |
Common combinations
- reverent silence
- A reverent silence filled the chapel.
- reverent tone
- She talked about the poet in a reverent tone.
- reverent awe
- The children looked at the old tree with reverent awe.
- reverent attitude
- He took a reverent attitude toward the old traditions.
- reverent hush
- A reverent hush fell over the crowd as the flag was raised.
Synonyms and how they differ
- respectful
- Respectful is general and can be mild, while reverent adds depth and a sense of awe.
- devout
- Devout describes strongly religious people and their lasting faith, whereas reverent describes a manner at a specific moment.
- worshipful
- Worshipful suggests something close to adoration, which is stronger than reverent.
- solemn
- Solemn means serious and formal in mood, but does not necessarily show respect for something sacred.
Opposites
Word family
- reverence noun
- deep respect and awe
- revere verb
- to admire deeply and respect greatly
- reverently adverb
- in a deeply respectful way
- irreverent adjective
- showing no respect for things usually treated seriously
- reverend noun
- a title for a member of the clergy
Commonly confused: reverent or reverend?
reverent vs reverend
Reverend is a title for a clergy member, while reverent describes respectful behavior; they are easy to mix up in spelling.
Practice
The guide lowered his voice and spoke in a ___ tone as the group entered the ancient shrine.
Choose one answer.
At a shrine, a deeply respectful tone fits, which is what reverent means. The other options describe disrespectful or indifferent manners.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reverent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.