respectfully

respectfully — adverb

1. using polite words or actions to show that you recognize someone's higher rank,

1.adverbB2
Definition

using polite words or actions to show that you recognize someone's higher rank, greater age, or authority.

Example

The students respectfully addressed the elder by his formal title.

respectfully address + formal title — polite address pattern

Putri listened respectfully to her grandmother's advice without interrupting.

listen respectfully to [person] — attentive listening pattern

Common collocations
  • bow respectfully
  • listen respectfully
  • address respectfully
  • speak respectfully
  • decline respectfully
Synonyms
  • politely

    more general — simply follows social conventions of courtesy without implying deference

  • courteously

    implies gracious, considerate behaviour, often in formal settings

  • deferentially

    stronger than respectfully — implies yielding to someone's superior status or opinion

Antonyms
  • disrespectfully

    the direct opposite — showing lack of politeness or regard

  • rudely

    implies offensive or impolite behaviour

  • impolitely

    failing to follow basic social courtesies

Grammar Patterns

[verb] + respectfully

respectfully + [verb]

Usage Note

Common in formal situations where social hierarchy, age, or authority is acknowledged. The adverb can appear before or after the verb it modifies, though pre-verbal position ('respectfully declined') sounds slightly more formal than post-verbal ('listened respectfully').

Common Mistakes

I respectfully disagree with you, you are wrong.
I respectfully disagree with you, though I understand your point.
Using 'respectfully' with aggressive follow-up phrasing contradicts the polite tone the word sets up.
Respectfully' (when meaning 'respectively').
The scores were 85, 90, and 78, respectively.
'Respectfully' describes polite behaviour; 'respectively' means 'in the order given.'

2. expressing deep admiration or esteem when you talk or write about someone or som

2.adverbB2
Definition

expressing deep admiration or esteem when you talk or write about someone or something you value highly.

Example

Tanvi spoke respectfully of her former teacher, calling her the best mentor she ever had.

speak respectfully of [person] — admiration pattern

The biography describes the scientist respectfully, highlighting both achievements and personal struggles.

describe respectfully + biographical context

Common collocations
  • speak respectfully of
  • write respectfully about
  • refer respectfully to
  • describe respectfully
  • think respectfully of
Synonyms
  • admiringly

    more emotional — implies warmth and approval rather than measured esteem

  • reverentially

    stronger — suggests near-worshipful respect, often in religious contexts

  • appreciatively

    focuses on gratitude for qualities or contributions

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[verb] + respectfully + of/about [person/something]

speak respectfully of

write respectfully about

Usage Note

Often used in biographical writing, reviews, tributes, and obituaries to express esteem in a measured, dignified tone. Unlike sense 1 (POLITE DEFERENCE), this sense focuses on the speaker's internal feeling of admiration rather than outward social politeness.

Common Mistakes

I respectfully think this film is the best ever made.
I think this film is the best ever made, and I say that respectfully.
The second form keeps the admiration clear; the first feels like a disclaimer before an opinion.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Politely is the most general term — it simply means following basic social rules of courtesy, such as saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Courteously goes a step further, implying gracious and considerate behaviour often expected in formal settings like business meetings or diplomatic events. Respectfully adds a layer of acknowledging someone's position, age, or authority — it is more specific than politely and carries a tone of deference. Deferentially is the strongest of the four, suggesting that the speaker consciously yields to another's superior status or opinion. For example: the waiter politely took their orders; the student respectfully addressed the professor by title; the host courteously offered drinks to all guests; the junior staff deferentially stepped aside for the director.

politely ↗courteouslydeferentially

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • speak respectfully of
  • listen respectfully to
  • refer respectfully to
  • write respectfully about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Respectfully traces back to the Latin verb 'respicere' (to look back at, regard), which formed 'respectus' (regard, consideration). The English word 'respect' entered the language through Old French in the 1300s. The suffix '-ful' (full of) was added to form the adjective 'respectful', and the adverbial suffix '-ly' was then added to create 'respectfully' by the 1600s.