Understanding What It Means To Define Revere In Everyday Life

Hadley Thiel 27 Jul 2025

Have you ever felt such deep admiration for someone or something that it almost feels like worship? You know, that feeling where you hold something in truly high regard, like it's incredibly special? Well, that very strong feeling, that deep respect, is often what we mean when we talk about how to define revere. It's a word that carries a lot of weight, a lot of feeling, and it’s pretty interesting to think about.

Learning how to define revere helps us grasp a particular kind of respect, one that goes beyond just liking someone or something. It’s about seeing someone or something as incredibly worthy of great honor, a kind of devoted, deferential honor, you know? It's a formal verb, typically, and it paints a picture of someone being held in awe, almost like a revered figure.

So, we're going to explore this word together today, looking at what it truly means to define revere, how people use it, and what makes it different from just plain respect. We'll look at some examples, think about words that are similar, and even check out some words that are quite the opposite. It's a pretty useful word to have in your vocabulary, that's for sure.

The Heart of Revere: What It Really Means
Revere as a Feeling and an Action
The Formal Side of Revere
Examples of Revere in Action
Revere Beyond the Verb: Its Other Forms
Words That Are Like Revere: Synonyms
Words That Are the Opposite of Revere: Antonyms
Common Questions About Revere
Bringing Revere Into Your Own Words

The Heart of Revere: What It Really Means

When you set out to define revere, you’re really talking about a very deep level of respect and admiration. It’s not just about liking someone or thinking they’re good; it’s about regarding them as truly worthy of great honor. This kind of honor is often devoted and deferential, meaning you show a kind of humble respect to them. It’s almost like you hold them in a special, high place in your mind, you know?

This feeling, this act, means to very much respect and admire someone or something. It’s a powerful word, and it points to a profound sense of esteem. Think about people who have made a huge difference in the world, perhaps civil rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks. Many Americans, arguably, revere them for their work in making the country a more just place. That's a pretty good example, I think.

To define revere, then, is to talk about regarding someone or something with a deep respect that’s tinged with awe. It's a feeling that comes from seeing someone’s incredible contributions or their amazing character. It’s about recognizing greatness and giving it the honor it deserves, more or less.

Revere as a Feeling and an Action

Revere isn't just a passive feeling; it's also an action, a way of showing honor. It means to regard with awe, deference, and devotion. This is a very active kind of respect, where you might show it through your actions, your words, or even just your thoughts. It’s about holding someone or something in such high esteem that it influences how you interact with them, you see.

Sometimes, this can even mean to love unquestioningly and uncritically. This doesn't mean you blindly follow everything, but rather that your respect is so deep, so fundamental, that you trust and admire without needing constant proof. It’s a very strong bond of honor, that.

So, when you define revere, you’re talking about both an inner feeling of profound respect and the outward actions that demonstrate that honor. It’s a comprehensive way of showing how much you value something or someone, really.

The Formal Side of Revere

The word "revere" is often described as a formal verb. This means you’ll typically find it in more serious writing or speech, rather than in casual conversation. You might read it in a newspaper article about a historical figure, or in a speech about someone’s legacy, for instance. It’s a word that carries a certain gravitas, a certain weight, you know?

Using this formal verb in different contexts helps you convey a very specific type of honor. It tells your audience that the respect you’re talking about is not light or fleeting; it’s deep and enduring. It's not a word you'd use for just anything, but rather for things or people that truly inspire awe and devotion. It’s a bit like choosing the perfect, most precise word for a very important thought, isn't it?

So, while you might respect your neighbor for helping you move, you would likely revere a historical leader who fought for profound social change. The formality of the word helps to distinguish these different levels of admiration, arguably.

Examples of Revere in Action

Seeing "revere" used in a sentence can really help to define revere in a practical sense. For example, you might hear someone say, "The ancient people would revere their ancestors, believing their spirits watched over them." Here, it shows a deep, almost spiritual, honor. It's a very powerful way to put it, you know?

Another way to use it might be, "Scientists around the world revere Stephen Hawking for his groundbreaking work in theoretical physics." This sentence highlights intellectual respect and admiration for significant contributions. It shows how much his ideas were valued, you see.

Or, consider this: "Many Americans revere civil rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks, who worked to make the country a more just place." This example, which is actually from our source text, perfectly illustrates how deep respect for moral courage and societal impact can lead to revere. It’s a powerful sentiment, to be honest.

Revere Beyond the Verb: Its Other Forms

While we mostly focus on how to define revere as a verb, it’s worth noting that it can also function as a noun. Sometimes, it means "revers," which refers to the lapel of a garment, like on a jacket. That's a different kind of meaning entirely, you know?

Interestingly, "Revere" can also be a name. It might be the name of a city, perhaps Revere, Massachusetts, which is a place with its own history. Or it could be the name of a person, like Paul Revere, the famous silversmith and American patriot. So, the word has quite a few hats it can wear, so to speak, depending on the context. It’s pretty versatile, actually.

When you see "Revere" capitalized, especially if it’s followed by "Massachusetts" or if it's clearly referring to a person, then you know it’s a proper noun. This just shows how words can have multiple layers of meaning, doesn't it? Learn more about vocabulary and language on our site.

Words That Are Like Revere: Synonyms

To truly define revere, it helps to look at words that share a similar meaning. These synonyms give us a broader sense of the nuances involved. They help us see the different shades of deep respect and admiration, you know?

Venerate

To venerate means to regard with great respect; to revere. It often carries a sense of religious or spiritual awe, like venerating a saint. It's a very strong word for showing honor, too.

Worship

Worship implies a very intense, almost divine, form of adoration and respect. While "revere" is strong, "worship" often suggests a higher, perhaps spiritual, level of devotion. It’s a pretty profound term, that.

Reverence

This is the noun form of revere, meaning deep respect and admiration for something. It’s the feeling you have when you revere something, you know? It's the state of being reverent.

Honor

To honor means to regard with great respect. While "honor" can be a general term, when used as a synonym for "revere," it implies a very high level of esteem and recognition. It’s a basic, yet powerful, word.

Admire

Admire means to regard with respect or warm approval. While "admire" is a component of "revere," "revere" suggests a much deeper, more profound level of admiration, often tinged with awe. It’s a good starting point for understanding, but not the whole picture, really.

Adore

To adore means to love and respect deeply. Like "worship," "adore" suggests a very strong emotional connection, often with a sense of passionate affection. It’s a very warm kind of respect, in a way.

Respect

Respect is the foundation of revere. It means to have due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. Revere takes this respect to an elevated level, adding awe and devotion. It’s the basic building block, essentially.

Praise

To praise means to express approval or admiration of. While you might praise someone you revere, "praise" is more about verbal commendation, whereas "revere" is about the deep internal feeling and overall regard. It’s a specific action, you know?

Words That Are the Opposite of Revere: Antonyms

Just as helpful as synonyms are antonyms, which show us what "revere" is decidedly not. These words represent a complete lack of respect, admiration, or honor. They show the other side of the coin, you see.

Violate

To violate means to break or disregard a law, agreement, or principle. In the context of "revere," it means to treat something sacred or highly respected with disrespect or to desecrate it. It’s a pretty strong negative action, that.

Desecrate

Desecrate means to treat a sacred place or thing with violent disrespect. This is a very direct opposite of revere, as it involves actively dishonoring something held holy or in high regard. It’s a very offensive act, arguably.

Blaspheme

To blaspheme means to speak irreverently about God or sacred things. This word is a direct counter to the devotion and awe implied by revere, specifically in a religious context. It’s a very serious word, that.

Insult

To insult means to speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse. This is a common way to show a lack of revere, as it directly attacks someone’s dignity or worth. It’s a pretty rude thing to do, you know?

Offend

To offend means to cause someone to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful. While not always as strong as "insult," to offend someone or something that is revered is a clear opposite of showing honor. It’s a way of showing disregard, you see.

Scorn

Scorn means to feel or express contempt or derision for someone or something. This is a powerful antonym, as it implies a complete lack of respect, often accompanied by a feeling of superiority. It’s a very negative emotion, that.

Common Questions About Revere

People often have questions when they try to define revere. Here are a few common ones that come up, you know, things that people are usually curious about.

Is "revere" a formal word, or can I use it casually?

Revere is definitely a formal word. You’ll typically find it in more serious writing or speech, not in everyday chats. It conveys a very deep, serious kind of respect, so using it casually might sound a bit out of place, you know?

What's the difference between "respect" and "revere"?

Respect is a general feeling of admiration for someone’s qualities or achievements. Revere, on the other hand, is a much deeper, more intense form of respect, often tinged with awe, deference, and even devotion. It’s like respect on a much higher level, arguably. You can respect many people, but you might only revere a select few.

Can you revere an idea or a concept, not just a person?

Yes, absolutely! While we often talk about revering people, you can certainly revere an idea, a principle, or a concept. For example, someone might revere the principles of justice or democracy. It’s about holding those ideas in very high regard, seeing them as incredibly important and worthy of deep honor, you see. You can check the definition of revere at Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary for more details.

Bringing Revere Into Your Own Words

So, we’ve spent some time exploring what it means to define revere, haven't we? It’s a word that speaks to a profound level of respect, admiration, and even awe. It’s about recognizing someone or something as truly worthy of great honor, a kind of devoted and deferential regard. It's a powerful word to use when you want to convey that very special kind of esteem.

Now that you have a clearer picture of this word, you can start to think about where you might use it in your own conversations or writing. Maybe you’ll notice it more often in things you read, or perhaps you'll find the perfect moment to use it yourself. It’s a great way to express a deep, heartfelt appreciation, you know? Just remember its formal nature and the weight it carries.

Understanding words like "revere" helps us communicate more precisely and powerfully, doesn't it? It allows us to express those nuanced feelings that simple words just can't quite capture. So, go ahead, use this word when the moment calls for that very special kind of honor. You can learn more about how to choose the right words for your writing on our site.

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