Definition
Reverence is a deep feeling of respect, admiration, or awe toward someone or something. It is stronger and more serious than ordinary respect.
Etymology
From Old French *reverence* “respect, honor,” from Latin *reverentia* “awe, respect,” from *revereri* “to stand in awe of.” Related to *re-* “again” + *vereri* “to fear, respect.”
Kelly Says
Reverence mixes respect with a touch of fear, like how people whisper in huge cathedrals or at important memorials. It’s the emotional opposite of casual—everything about it says, “This really matters.”
Translations
AFAfrikaans
reverence
reverence
AMአማርኛ
reverence
reverence
ARالعربية
reverence
reverence
BGБългарски
reverence
reverence
BNবাংলা
reverence
reverence
CACatalà
reverence
reverence
CSČeština
reverence
reverence
DADansk
reverence
reverence
DEDeutsch
Ehrfurcht
Ehrfurcht
ELΕλληνικά
reverence
reverence
ESEspañol
reverencia
reverencia
ETEesti
reverence
reverence
EUEuskara
reverence
reverence
FAفارسی
reverence
reverence
FISuomi
reverence
reverence
FRFrançais
révérence
révérence
GLGalego
reverence
reverence
HEעברית
reverence
reverence
HIहिन्दी
reverence
reverence
HRHrvatski
reverence
reverence
HUMagyar
reverence
reverence
IDBahasa Indonesia
reverence
reverence
ITItaliano
riverenza
riverenza
LTLietuvių
reverence
reverence
LVLatviešu
reverence
reverence
MNМонгол
reverence
reverence
MSBahasa Melayu
reverence
reverence
MYမြန်မာ
reverence
reverence
NLNederlands
reverence
reverence
NONorsk
reverence
reverence
PLPolski
reverence
reverence
PTPortuguês
reverence
reverence
RORomână
reverence
reverence
RUРусский
благоговение
благоговение
SKSlovenčina
reverence
reverence
SLSlovenščina
reverence
reverence
SRСрпски
reverence
reverence
SVSvenska
reverence
reverence
SWKiswahili
reverence
reverence
TAதமிழ்
reverence
reverence
TEతెలుగు
reverence
reverence
THไทย
reverence
reverence
TRTürkçe
reverence
reverence
UKУкраїнська
reverence
reverence
URاردو
reverence
reverence
VITiếng Việt
reverence
reverence
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
"Reverence" has been used in religious and cultural contexts where women were expected to show reverence to male authorities while not receiving equal reverence in return. At the same time, feminine figures (divine or symbolic) were sometimes revered in ways that did not translate into real-world equality.
Inclusive Usage
Use without assuming that reverence should flow along gendered hierarchies; be cautious about idealizing feminine symbols while ignoring actual women’s rights.
Inclusive Alternatives
["deep respect","veneration","awe"]
Empowerment Note
Acknowledge women and gender-diverse leaders who have challenged traditions demanding reverence without reciprocity or equality.