revere

1 of 2

verb

re·​vere ri-ˈvir 

revered; revering

transitive verb

: to show devoted deferential honor to : regard as worthy of great honor

revere the aged

revere tradition

revere

2 of 2

noun

: revers

Synonyms

Verb

• adore
• deify
• glorify
• reverence
• venerate
• worship

Choose the Right Synonym for revere

revere, reverence, venerate, worship, adore mean to honor and admire profoundly and respectfully.

revere stresses deference and tenderness of feeling.

a professor revered by her students

reverence presupposes an intrinsic merit and inviolability in the one honored and a similar depth of feeling in the one honoring.

reverenced the academy's code of honor

venerate implies a holding as holy or sacrosanct because of character, association, or age.

heroes still venerated

worship implies homage usually expressed in words or ceremony.

worships their memory

adore implies love and stresses the notion of an individual and personal attachment.

we adored our doctor

Examples of revere in a Sentence

Verb

The family reveres old traditions.

in some cultures people revere their ancestors, even leaving food offerings for them

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Stonewall Inn at the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village is prized as an origin of the contemporary LGBTQ rights movement and is internationally revered as a symbol of gay, lesbian and transgender resistance. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025

Nevertheless, tradition reveres him as the greatest king of Israel and Judah, the author of beautiful poetry and the father of King Solomon, who is credited with the ultimate biblical love poem, the Song of Songs. —Jacob F. Love, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025

Noun

Maybe the most important question is yet to be answered: Why did the ancient Egyptians revere baboons? —Miriam Fauzia, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2023

Those in its thrall revere nugget ice for its texture. —Ligaya Mishan Esther Choi, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French reverer, borrowed from Latin reverērī "to stand in awe of, treat with deference," from re- re- + verērī "to show reverence for, fear" — more at ware entry 2

Noun

by alteration

First Known Use

Verb

1615, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for revere

• adhere
• ameer
• amir
• appear
• arrear
• astir
• austere
• career
• cashier
• cohere
• compere
• emir

Kids Definition

revere

verb

re·​vere

ri-ˈvi(ə)r

revered; revering

: to show devotion and honor to : think of with reverence

Geographical Definition

Revere

geographical name

Re·​vere ri-ˈvir 

city in eastern Massachusetts on an inlet of the Atlantic just north of the northeasternmost part of Boston population 51,755

Biographical Definition

Revere

biographical name

Re·​vere ri-ˈvir 

Paul 1735–1818 American patriot and silversmith