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respect

Pronunciation: /rɪˈspɛkt/
Translate respect | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of respect

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements:the director had a lot of respect for Douglas as an actor
  • the state of being admired or respected:his first chance in over fifteen years to regain respect in the business
  • (respects) a person’s polite greetings:give my respects to their Excellencies
  • informal used to express the speaker’s approval of someone or something:respect to Hill for a truly non-superficial piece on the techno scene
  • 2due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others:young people’s lack of respect for their parents
  • 3a particular aspect, point, or detail:the government’s record in this respect is a mixed one

verb

[with object]
  • 1admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements:she was respected by everyone she worked with (as adjective respected)a respected academic
  • 2have due regard for (someone’s feelings, wishes, or rights):I respected his views
  • avoid harming or interfering with:it is incumbent upon all hill users to respect the environment
  • agree to recognize and abide by (a legal requirement):the crown and its ministers ought to respect the ordinary law

Phrases

in respect of (or with respect to)

as regards; with reference to:the two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, and diagnoses

in respect that

because.

pay one's (last) respects

see pay1.

with (or with all due) respect

used as a polite formula preceding, and intended to mitigate the effect of, an expression of disagreement:with all due respect, Father, I think you’ve got to be more broad-minded these days

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin respectus, from the verb respicere 'look back at, regard', from re- 'back' + specere 'look at'

respect in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of respect in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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