respectful

respectful — adjective

1. feeling or expressing admiration for someone's abilities, character, or achievem

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

feeling or expressing admiration for someone's abilities, character, or achievements

Example

The crowd was respectful of the artist and thanked her for her story.

respectful of [someone] for admiration

The students listened in respectful silence as the climber described reaching the summit.

Common collocations
  • respectful of [someone/something]
  • respectful silence
  • respectful applause
  • respectful letter
  • respectful attitude
Synonyms
  • admiring

    more direct and personal; focuses on the feeling rather than the behaviour

  • appreciative

    emphasizes gratitude alongside admiration; often used for favours or contributions

  • reverent

    much stronger and more formal; implies deep awe, often in religious or solemn contexts

Antonyms
  • disrespectful

    showing a lack of admiration or regard for someone or something

Grammar Patterns

respectful of [someone/something]

respectful [noun]

Usage Note

Commonly takes the pattern 'respectful of + noun' when the object of admiration is specified (e.g. 'respectful of her courage'). When used attributively before a noun, the admiration is expressed through a specific behaviour such as silence, applause, or a letter.

Common Mistakes

She was respectful for his achievements.
She was respectful of his achievements.
The correct preposition after 'respectful' in this sense is 'of', not 'for'.
The team was respectful with the coach's decision.
The team was respectful of the coach's decision.
Use 'of' (admiration) or 'towards' (politeness), not 'with'.

2. behaving in a polite way that shows you recognize another person's position, fee

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

behaving in a polite way that shows you recognize another person's position, feelings, or needs

Example

Please remember to be respectful towards your grandparents when they visit.

respectful towards [someone] for polite behaviour

Isabela always speaks in a respectful tone when addressing the school principal.

Common collocations
  • respectful towards [someone]
  • respectful to [someone]
  • respectful tone
  • respectful distance
  • respectful behaviour
  • respectful bow
Synonyms
  • polite

    broader and more common; refers to general good manners rather than deference to status

  • deferential

    stronger and more formal; implies yielding to someone's authority or superior position

  • courteous

    formal and old-fashioned; emphasizes polished, considerate behaviour in social settings

Antonyms
  • rude

    behaving in an impolite or offensive way

  • disrespectful

    showing a lack of proper respect or consideration

Grammar Patterns

respectful towards [someone]

respectful to [someone]

respectful [noun]

Usage Note

Frequently constructed with 'towards' or 'to' to specify the person being shown politeness. The fixed phrase 'keep a respectful distance' means maintaining physical or social space as a sign of deference.

Common Mistakes

You should be respectful for your teachers.
You should be respectful towards your teachers.
With people, use 'towards' or 'to', not 'for'.

3. showing that you understand something matters deeply to others and choosing not

3.adjectiveB2
Definition

showing that you understand something matters deeply to others and choosing not to interfere with or criticize it

Example

Minh was respectful of his grandmother's tradition of lighting incense before every meal.

respectful of [beliefs/customs/traditions]

Saira asked respectful questions about the ceremony instead of making jokes.

Common collocations
  • respectful of [beliefs/traditions]
  • respectful of [privacy]
  • respectful of [choice/decision]
  • respectful of [customs]
  • respectful of [wishes]
  • respectful questions
Synonyms
  • considerate

    broader; focuses on being mindful of others' feelings in general

  • tolerant

    emphasizes accepting differences or behaviours you may not personally approve of

  • understanding

    implies sympathy and awareness of someone's situation rather than restraint

Antonyms
  • intrusive

    invading someone's privacy or personal matters

  • disrespectful

    showing disregard for what others value or hold important

Grammar Patterns

respectful of [traditions/beliefs/privacy/choices]

Usage Note

This sense always takes the pattern 'respectful of + noun' where the noun is something others value: traditions, beliefs, privacy, decisions, or personal space. Unlike sense 1 (admiration) or sense 2 (politeness towards a person), sense 3 focuses on not overstepping or causing offence.

Common Mistakes

He was respectful with their traditions.
He was respectful of their traditions.
This sense requires 'of', not 'with'.
Please be respectful to their privacy.
Please be respectful of their privacy.
Use 'of' for boundaries and personal matters; 'to/towards' is for people.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three words describe a positive recognition of someone else, but they differ in intensity and context. 'Admiring' is the most general — you can feel admiring of a friend's patience or a celebrity's talent — and it focuses on the internal feeling more than outward behaviour. 'Appreciative' adds an element of gratitude: you are thankful for what someone has done or provided, making it common in workplace or service settings ('an appreciative nod to the waiter'). 'Reverent' is the strongest and most formal, carrying a sense of deep awe, often in religious or solemn contexts ('a reverent hush in the temple'). 'Respectful' sits between them: it is broader than 'admiring' (covering both admiration and politeness) but less intense than 'reverent'. For everyday admiration of someone's skills or character, 'respectful' and 'admiring' are largely interchangeable; choose 'appreciative' when gratitude matters, and 'reverent' only for situations of deep solemnity.

admiringappreciativereverent

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in a respectful manner
  • with respectful silence
  • keep a respectful distance

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'respectful' was formed in English around the late 1500s by adding the suffix '-ful' (meaning 'full of') to 'respect'. The noun 'respect' comes from Latin 'respectus', meaning 'a looking back, regard, consideration', which is formed from 're-' (back) and 'specere' (to look). So the word carries the core image of 'looking back at someone with consideration' — turning your attention to another person's worth.