reverential

adjective

rev·​er·​en·​tial ˌre-və-ˈren(t)-shəl 

1

: expressing or having a quality of reverence

reverential awe

2

: inspiring reverence

reverentially

ˌre-və-ˈren(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of reverential in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His age, recent back-to-back bouts of cancer and ongoing radiotherapy complications notwithstanding, Book’s drive is so tireless that it’s become something of a reverential joke among many who interact with him. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025

While reverential to the brand’s history and its signature bravado, Puglisi brings a thoughtfulness to his work that his predecessors largely resisted. —Ian Malone, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025

After releasing a reverential remaster of the first two games in 2020 with 4K upscaling and behind-the-scenes looks at their full-motion video scenes, EA is now opening up the series even more to its fans. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025

How reverential can anyone find the job after this? —Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin reverentiālis, from Latin reverentia reverence entry 1 + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for reverential

• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential

Kids Definition

reverential

adjective

rev·​er·​en·​tial ˌrev-ə-ˈren-chəl 

1

: showing or having a quality of reverence

2

: inspiring reverence

reverentially

-ˈrench-(ə-)lē 

adverb