Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Reverent for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Reverent" — adjective, pronounced /ˈrevərənt/, with the stress on "rev".
Narrator: Reverent means showing deep respect and admiration, often in a quiet, serious way.
Narrator: In plain English, it means very respectful.
Narrator: It comes from the Latin reverens, standing in awe.
Narrator: A common collocation is "reverent silence", which describes a hushed, respectful quiet.
Narrator: It differs from "polite", because polite is ordinary good manners, while reverent is deep awe.
Narrator: In a second sense, "irreverent" means cheekily disrespectful, often in a fun way.
Narrator: Religion, museums, ceremonies and writing all rely on the word.
Narrator: So remember: reverent means full of respect.
Speaker A: Why did the crowd go quiet?
Speaker B: A REVERENT silence for the fallen! It comes from Latin for standing in awe.
Speaker A: For the two minutes?
Speaker B: Exactly, at eleven o'clock.
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "Visitors spoke in reverent whispers", a cathedral. "He handled the old book with reverent care", a library. "The film takes a reverent tone", a review.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Do not confuse reverent, respectful, with "Reverend", the title.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: Respectful is its cousin, devout its twin, and solemn an alternative — yet reverent keeps its hushed charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "reverent" in AI prompts — useful for tone control and museum guides.
Speaker A: How for tone?
Speaker B: Adjust register.
Prompt: Rewrite this memorial article in a reverent tone suitable for a remembrance service.
Speaker A: And museums?
Speaker B: Guide visitors.
Prompt: Write an audio guide intro encouraging reverent behaviour in a war memorial gallery.
Speaker A: Could it help reviews?
Speaker B: Yes, for comparison.
Prompt: Compare a reverent and an irreverent review of the same classic film.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: Editing.
Prompt: Check this text for reverent and Reverend mix-ups and correct them.
Reverent — meaning in Arabic & definition More R courses GL Dictionary