salute

1 of 2

verb

sa·​lute sə-ˈlüt 

saluted; saluting

transitive verb

1

a

: to address with expressions of kind wishes, courtesy, or honor

b

: to give a sign of respect, courtesy, or goodwill to : greet

2

: to become apparent to (one of the senses)

3

a

: to honor (a person, a nation, an event, etc.) by a conventional military or naval ceremony

b

: to show respect and recognition to (a military superior) by assuming a prescribed position

c

: to express commendation of : praise

intransitive verb

: to make a salute

saluter noun

salute

2 of 2

noun

1

: greeting, salutation

2

a

: a sign, token, or ceremony expressing goodwill, compliment, or respect

the festival was a salute to the arts

b

: the position (as of the hand) or the entire attitude of a person saluting a superior

3

: firecracker

Synonyms

Verb

• acclaim
• accredit
• applaud
• cheer
• crack up
• hail
• laud
• praise
• tout

Noun

• greeting
• hello
• salutation
• welcome

Examples of salute in a Sentence

Verb

We salute our country's soldiers.

The players saluted the fans.

The president saluted her bravery.

Noun

The officers gave the general a salute.

They raised their hands in salute.

The concert was a salute to country music legends.

Twenty-one guns were fired in salute.

We raise our glasses in salute to the newlyweds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Designers, executives, style setters and other guests at the luncheon will salute standouts in a wide range of categories in fashion, beauty and other sectors. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 7 Mar. 2025

In a moment from the 2025 Oscars that didn't air on television but occurred during a commercial break, the Best Actor nominee saluted the strength of the community and emboldened his peers and fellow attendees to get up for an impromptu dance party. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2025

Noun

But the whole idea of having the presenter salute each actor should have been scrapped across the board! —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025

Musk's actions since President Donald Trump's second inauguration have prompted protests against Tesla in some quarters, including a case in Germany in which protesters projected Musk making his controversial gesture that many accused of being a Nazi salute. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin salutare, from salut-, salus health, safety, greeting, from salvus safe, healthy — more at safe

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for salute

• acute
• aleut
• astute
• beetroot
• breadfruit
• cheroot
• commute
• compute
• confute
• dilute
• dispute
• elute

Kids Definition

salute

1 of 2 verb

sa·​lute sə-ˈlüt 

saluted; saluting

1

: to greet with courteous words or a bow

2

a

: to honor by a standard military ceremony

b

: to show respect to by taking the proper position

salute an officer

saluter noun

salute

2 of 2 noun

1

: salutation sense 1, greeting

2

a

: a sign or ceremony of goodwill, compliment, or respect

b

: the position taken by a person saluting a military officer