Standard Lemma guide

salute

noun · verb · 19 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /səˈl(j)uːt/
  • Received-Pronunciation: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /səˈlut/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uːt
  • CMU ARPABET: S AH0 L UW1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An utterance or gesture expressing greeting or honor towards someone, (now especially) a formal, non-verbal gesture made with the arms or hands in any of various specific positions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The soldiers greeted the dignitaries with a crisp salute.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A kiss, offered in salutation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A discharge of cannon or similar arms, as a mark of honour or respect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, nautical, politics, transport, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A pyrotechnic device primarily designed to produce a loud bang.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To make a gesture in honor of (someone or something).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • They saluted the flag as it passed in the parade.
  • 1943 June 19, New York Times, quoted in 2000, Terry Eastland, Freedom of Expression in the Supreme Court: The Defining Cases, page 64, Yet the simple fact stands that a school child compelled to salute the flag, when he has been taught the flag is an "image" which the Bible forbids him to worship, is in effect made to say what he does not believe.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To act in thanks, honor, or tribute; to thank or extend gratitude; to praise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I would like to salute the many dedicated volunteers that make this project possible.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

to wave, to acknowledge an acquaintance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, informal

Examples

  • I saluted Bill at the concert, but he didn't see me through the crowd.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To address, as with expressions of kind wishes and courtesy; to greet; to hail.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To promote the welfare and safety of; to benefit; to gratify.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To kiss.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

an act of greeting with friendly words and gestures like bowing or lifting the hat

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greeting, salutation

12

noun

Meaning 12

a formal military gesture of respect

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: military greeting

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greeting, salutation

13

noun

Meaning 13

an act of honor or courteous recognition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a musical salute to the composer on his birthday

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: salutation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: recognition, credit

14

verb

Meaning 14

express commendation of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I salute your courage!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: praise

15

verb

Meaning 15

greet in a friendly way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I meet this men every day on my way to work and he salutes me

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greet, recognize, recognise

Narrower terms: salaam

16

verb

Meaning 16

recognize with a gesture prescribed by a military regulation; assume a prescribed position

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • When the officers show up, the soldiers have to salute

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: present

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greet, recognize, recognise

17

verb

Meaning 17

honor with a military ceremony, as when honoring dead soldiers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: greet, recognize, recognise

18

verb

Meaning 18

propose a toast to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Let us toast the birthday girl!
  • Let's drink to the New Year

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: toast, drink, pledge, wassail

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: honor, honour, reward

Narrower terms: give

19

verb

Meaning 19

become noticeable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a terrible stench saluted our nostrils

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: smell

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin salūtō (“to greet; to wish health to”), from salūs (“greeting, good health”), related to salvus (“safe”).

Across languages

Translations

36 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 敬禮 /敬礼 (jìnglǐ) — formal gesture
  • Finnish: tervehdys — formal gesture
  • Finnish: kunnianosoitus — formal gesture
  • Indonesian: hormat — formal gesture
  • Japanese: 敬礼 (keirei) — formal gesture
  • Korean: 경례 (gyeongnye) — formal gesture
  • Malay: hormat — formal gesture
  • Portuguese: saudação — formal gesture
  • Romanian: salut — formal gesture
  • Russian: приве́тствие (privétstvije) — formal gesture
  • Russian: отда́ние че́сти (otdánije čésti) — formal gesture
  • Tagalog: pagpugay — formal gesture
  • Tagalog: pagsaludo — formal gesture
  • Tagalog: pagbati — formal gesture
  • Urdu: سَلَام (salām) — formal gesture
  • Chinese Mandarin: 敬禮 /敬礼 (jìnglǐ) — make a gesture
  • Esperanto: saluti — make a gesture
  • Finnish: tervehtiä — make a gesture
  • Finnish: suorittaa kunnianosoitus — make a gesture
  • Galician: saudar — make a gesture
  • Gothic: 𐌲𐍉𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (gōljan) — make a gesture
  • Indonesian: hormat — make a gesture
  • Japanese: 敬礼する (keirei suru) — make a gesture
  • Korean: 경례하다 (gyeongnyehada) — make a gesture
  • Malay: hormat — make a gesture
  • Russian: приве́тствовать (privétstvovatʹ) — make a gesture
  • Russian: поприве́тствовать (poprivétstvovatʹ) — make a gesture
  • Russian: отдава́ть честь (otdavátʹ čestʹ) — make a gesture
  • Russian: отда́ть честь (otdátʹ čestʹ) — make a gesture
  • Spanish: salutacionar — make a gesture
  • Spanish: hacer una salutación — make a gesture
  • Tagalog: pugay — make a gesture
  • Tagalog: saludo — make a gesture
  • Tagalog: bati — make a gesture
  • Ottoman Turkish: سلاملامق (selâmlamak) — make a gesture
  • Urdu: سَلَام کَرْنا (salām karnā) — make a gesture
Real reading context

salute in complete knowledge articles

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