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

The track gets bolstered by reverential piano and the trio’s ethereal harmonies. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 9 Dec. 2024

When this happens, often the characters in question are based on real people for whom the actors have adopted a reverential mimicry that teeters on possession on and off set. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2024

Bad news comes in the form of this Brighton away shirt, which seems to be a reverential tribute to their away shirt from… 2014. —Nick Miller, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024

Despite smart, playful cooking, everyone around me ate in reverential near-silence. —Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2024

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

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