adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ɹɪˈspɛkt.fl̩/
/ɹɪˈspɛk.fl̩/
/ɹəˈspɛkt.fl̩/
/ɹəˈspɛk.fl̩/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 S P EH1 K T F AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Marked or characterized by respect
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
1907, Marshall Broomhall (Editor), The Chinese Empire. A General & Missionary Survey/The Province of Kansu On the whole, indifference rather than open hostility has been the attitude of the people towards the Gospel, but since 1900 there has been a more eager and respectful attention to the things taught.
It is of great importance that you act in a respectful manner towards the duke and duchess.
They used highly respectful language when conversing with the elders.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adjective
Meaning 2
full of or exhibiting respect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
respectful behavior
a respectful glance
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: disrespectful
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
feeling or manifesting veneration
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: reverential, venerating
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From respect + -ful.
Across languages
Translations
47 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
مُحْتَرَم
(muḥtaram)
— characterized by respect
Arabic:
محترم
(muḥtaram)
— characterized by respect
Belarusian:
паважлівы
(pavažlivy)
— characterized by respect
Belarusian:
пачцівы
(pačcivy)
— characterized by respect
Bulgarian:
почтителен
(počtitelen)
— characterized by respect
Bulgarian:
вежлив
(vežliv)
— characterized by respect
Catalan:
respectuós
— characterized by respect
Chinese Mandarin:
恭敬
(gōngjìng)
— characterized by respect
Dutch:
eerbiedig
— characterized by respect
Dutch:
respectvol
— characterized by respect
Esperanto:
respekta
— characterized by respect
Esperanto:
respektema
— characterized by respect
Esperanto:
altestima
— characterized by respect
Finnish:
kunnioittava
— characterized by respect
French:
respectueux
— characterized by respect
Galician:
respectuoso
— characterized by respect
German:
respektvoll
— characterized by respect
Hindi:
सम्मानपूर्वक
(sammānpūrvak)
— characterized by respect
Hungarian:
tiszteletteljes
— characterized by respect
Hungarian:
tisztelettudó
— characterized by respect
Ido:
respektoza
— characterized by respect
Ido:
respektema
— characterized by respect
Irish:
measúil
— characterized by respect
Irish:
ómósach
— characterized by respect
Italian:
rispettoso
— characterized by respect
Japanese:
恭しい
(uyauyashii)
— characterized by respect
Khmer:
មានគារវៈ
(miən kiərĕəʼvĕəʼ)
— characterized by respect
Korean:
공손한
(gongson-han)
— characterized by respect
Latin:
reverens
— characterized by respect
Lithuanian:
pagarbus
— characterized by respect
Māori:
ngākau whakaute
— characterized by respect
Norman:
respectueux
— characterized by respect
Occitan:
respectuós
— characterized by respect
Persian:
محترمانه
(mohtaramâne)
— characterized by respect
Plautdietsch:
heeflich
— characterized by respect
Polish:
atencjonalny
— characterized by respect
Portuguese:
respeitoso
— characterized by respect
Romanian:
respectuos
— characterized by respect
Russian:
уважи́тельный
(uvažítelʹnyj)
— characterized by respect
Russian:
почти́тельный
(počtítelʹnyj)
— characterized by respect
Slovene:
spoštljiv
— characterized by respect
Spanish:
respetuoso
— characterized by respect
Tagalog:
magalang
— characterized by respect
Turkish:
saygılı
— characterized by respect
Ukrainian:
шанобли́вий
(šanoblývyj)
— characterized by respect