REVERENT

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does reverent mean? 

• REVERENT (adjective)
  The adjective REVERENT has 2 senses:

1. feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

2. showing great reverence for god

  Familiarity information: REVERENT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REVERENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Feeling or showing profound respect or veneration

Context example:

maintained a reverent silence

Similar:

adoring; worshipful (showing adoration)

awed; awful (inspired by a feeling of fearful wonderment or reverence)

respectful; reverential; venerating (feeling or manifesting veneration)

Also:

respectful (full of or exhibiting respect)

Antonym:

irreverent (showing lack of due respect or veneration)

Derivation:

revere (love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol)

revere (regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of)

reverence (a reverent mental attitude)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing great reverence for god

Synonyms:

godly; reverent; worshipful

Context example:

leading a godly life

Similar:

pious (having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity)

Derivation:

revere (love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol)

revere (regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of)

reverence (a feeling of profound respect for someone or something)

 Context examples 

“He of the fur mantle has a wise and reverent face.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They never got over it, and every letter they wrote him reflected their reverent awe of that first mysterious happening.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

My mother seemed to speak with a hushed voice when she mentioned this wonderful brother of hers, and always had done as long as I can remember, so that I had learned also to have a subdued and reverent feeling when I heard his name.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With tears and prayers and tender hands, Mother and sisters made her ready for the long sleep that pain would never mar again, seeing with grateful eyes the beautiful serenity that soon replaced the pathetic patience that had wrung their hearts so long, and feeling with reverent joy that to their darling death was a benignant angel, not a phantom full of dread.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

For an instant, in his earnest gaze and reverent manner, we seemed to catch a glimpse of the deeper, truer Nelson, the man of the Eastern counties, steeped in the virile Puritanism which sent from that district the Ironsides to fashion England within, and the Pilgrim Fathers to spread it without.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She vanished. In a moment Meyer Wolfshiem stood solemnly in the doorway, holding out both hands. He drew me into his office, remarking in a reverent voice that it was a sad time for all of us, and offered me a cigar.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)