salute

salute — verb

1. to show formal military respect by raising your right hand toward your forehead,

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to show formal military respect by raising your right hand toward your forehead, especially when meeting a superior officer or during a ceremonial event

Example

Every morning the guards salute the flag as it is raised over the camp.

salute the flag

The new soldier saluted the general nervously, trying to remember the correct form.

Common collocations
  • salute the flag
  • salute an officer
  • return a salute
  • stand at attention and salute
Synonyms
  • greet

    neutral and general; 'salute' is specifically military and formal

  • honour

    broader in meaning; 'honour' can involve ceremonies, while 'salute' is a specific gesture

Antonyms
  • ignore

    to deliberately pay no attention, the opposite of showing formal respect

Grammar Patterns

salute + noun phrase

salute (no object)

Usage Note

The object may be omitted when the recipient is clear from context: "He saluted." is complete on its own. Officers typically return a subordinate's salute as a professional courtesy.

Common Mistakes

The soldier waved at the general.
The soldier saluted the general.
A wave is too casual; a salute is the correct formal military gesture.
She saluted to the officer.
She saluted the officer.
'Salute' in the military sense does not take the preposition 'to'.

2. to publicly express praise or admiration for someone because of something they h

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to publicly express praise or admiration for someone because of something they have achieved or contributed

Example

The community centre saluted the fire brigade with a special award ceremony.

salute with an award

Doctors around the world saluted the research team's breakthrough in cancer care.

salute a breakthrough

Common collocations
  • salute someone's courage
  • salute someone's dedication
  • salute someone for their work
Synonyms
  • praise

    more general and can be informal; 'salute' has a more formal, public tone

  • honour

    similar formality but broader; 'honour' can involve awards or titles, while 'salute' is often verbal or symbolic

  • acclaim

    more enthusiastic and public; 'acclaim' suggests strong approval from many people

  • commend

    more official and structured, often used in formal reports

Antonyms
  • criticise

    to express disapproval, the opposite of showing public admiration

Grammar Patterns

salute + noun phrase

salute + noun phrase + for + noun phrase

Usage Note

Typically used for notable achievements or contributions. Common in formal speeches, official statements, and award ceremonies. The structure 'salute someone for something' is the most frequent pattern.

Common Mistakes

They saluted her as a kind person.
They saluted her for her years of service to the community.
'Salute' in this sense is used for actions and achievements, not general personal qualities.

3. to greet or welcome someone in a polite and friendly way, often using a gesture

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to greet or welcome someone in a polite and friendly way, often using a gesture or kind words

Example

The gentleman saluted the hostess with a polite bow before entering the room.

salute with a bow

Noa saluted her aunt with a cheerful wave from across the busy street.

Common collocations
  • salute someone with a wave
  • salute a guest
  • salute someone with a bow
Synonyms
  • greet

    neutral and widely used; 'greet' works in all registers, while 'salute' is formal

  • welcome

    specifically for receiving someone arriving; 'welcome' implies a warm reception

Antonyms
  • snub

    to ignore or reject someone deliberately, the opposite of greeting them politely

Grammar Patterns

salute + noun phrase

Usage Note

This sense is somewhat formal and less common in everyday speech. In modern English, 'greet', 'say hello to', or 'wave at' are more typical for informal situations.

Common Mistakes

She saluted her friend with a text message.
She greeted her friend with a text message.
'Salute' for a friendly greeting is too formal for casual communication like texting.

salute — noun

Word family

  • salutation
    nounC1
  • saluting
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words involve expressing approval, but they differ in formality and context. 'Salute' carries a slightly formal, ceremonial tone — you salute a person's contributions or achievements in a public way. 'Honour' is the broadest: it can range from a simple gesture to a formal award or title. 'Praise' is the most general and can be used in both casual conversation and formal writing. 'Acclaim' suggests enthusiastic public approval, often from a large group such as critics or fans. 'Commend' is more official and structured, commonly appearing in performance reviews, military reports, or formal recommendations. For example: the newspaper saluted the volunteers; the principal praised the students; critics acclaimed the film; the sergeant commended the troops.

honourpraise ↗acclaim ↗commend

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • return a salute
  • take the salute
  • stand at attention and salute
  • fire a salute
  • in salute

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'salute' comes from Latin 'salutare', meaning 'to greet, wish well, or pay respects to', which itself is derived from 'salus', meaning 'health, welfare, or safety'. The sense of a formal military hand gesture emerged in the late 16th century. The word entered English through French 'salut' (greeting), and over time the military meaning became the dominant sense in English, while the greeting sense became more formal and less frequent.