respect
B1 (Common)Formal, Neutral, and Informal (as verb/noun)
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements; due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.
A particular aspect, point, or detail. Used as 'in respect of' to indicate a connection or reference.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote admiration based on perceived merit OR polite consideration irrespective of feeling. The plural 'respects' refers to polite greetings or regards. The phrasal sense 'in respect of' is formal/legal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English slightly favours the formal prepositional phrase 'with respect to' or 'in respect of'. American English more commonly uses 'regarding' or 'concerning'. The spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar core connotations in both varieties. In AmE, the phrase 'respect' carries strong cultural weight in discourses on civility and social interaction.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both dialects. Corpus data shows near-identical ranking in top 2000 words.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
respect [sb/sth] (verb + object)have respect for [sb/sth]show respect to/towards [sb]in respect of [sth] (formal)with respect to [sth] (formal)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “with all due respect”
- “pay your respects”
- “in that respect”
- “no respecter of persons”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used in 'respect confidentiality', 'respect deadlines', 'mutual respect in negotiations'.
Academic
Common in 'respect intellectual property', 'respect differing viewpoints', 'in every respect'.
Everyday
Widely used for social behaviour: 'respect your elders', 'respect someone's feelings', 'respect the environment'.
Technical
Limited specific technical use; appears in legal contexts: 'in respect of the aforementioned clause'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You must respect the referee's decision.
- I respect her enormously for her honesty.
American English
- We need to respect the office of the Presidency.
- Respect your neighbor's property.
adverb
British English
- N/A – 'Respectfully' is the standard adverb.
American English
- N/A – 'Respectfully' is the standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- Please ensure all communications are respect-based.
- They run a respect-focused mentoring programme.
American English
- It was a respect-filled ceremony.
- We aim for a respect-oriented classroom culture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Children should respect their parents.
- He is a teacher, and everyone respects him.
- You must show respect to people from different cultures.
- I respect your opinion, but I disagree.
- The team earned the respect of their rivals through fair play.
- With all due respect, I believe your data is outdated.
- The agreement is flawed in several key respects.
- She commands respect not through authority, but through unwavering integrity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of RE-SPECT as 'to look again' (from Latin 're-' + 'specere'), implying looking again at someone with admiration.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPECT IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (earn, gain, lose respect); RESPECT IS HIGH STATUS (look up to, hold in high esteem).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'респект' (slang for respect).
- The noun 'уважение' is a close match, but English 'respect' as a verb ('I respect him') is more common than the Russian verb 'уважать'.
- Avoid using 'in respect of' in casual speech as a direct calque from 'в отношении'; use 'about' or 'regarding'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I have a big respect for her.' Correct: 'I have great respect for her.' (Respect is generally non-countable)
- Incorrect preposition: 'respect to the rules'. Correct: 'respect for the rules'.
- Confusing 'with respect to' (formal link) with 'with all due respect' (polish for disagreement).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is most appropriate for a formal business report?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, it is uncountable. We say 'great respect', not 'a respect'. However, it can be countable in the plural form 'respects' meaning polite greetings ('pay my respects') or in the phrase 'in some/many respects'.
'Respect' can be based on position, rules, or rights without deep admiration. 'Esteem' implies warmer, more personal admiration and high valuation.
It is a polite formula used to soften a contradictory or critical statement that follows. It signals you are not intending disrespect, e.g., 'With all due respect, Minister, those figures are incorrect.'
Not in standard usage. The adjective form is 'respectful'. The word 'respect' can be used attributively in compounds (e.g., 'respect politics'), but this is not a pure adjective.
Collections
Part of a collection
Personality Traits
B1 · 36 words · Describing character and personal qualities.
Relationships
B1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for interpersonal and social connections.