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respect

Syllabification: (re·spect)
Pronunciation: /riˈspekt/

Translate respect | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of respect

noun

  • 1a 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
  • due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others:respect for human rights
  • (respects) a person’s polite greetings:give my respects to your parents
  • 2a particular aspect, point, or detail:the government’s record in this respect is a mixed one

verb

[with object]
  • admire (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
  • have due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of:I respected his views
  • avoid harming or interfering with:it is incumbent upon all boaters to respect the environment
  • agree to recognize and abide by (a legal requirement):he urged all foreign nationals to respect the laws of their country of residence

Phrases

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.

pay one's 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 or criticism: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 British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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