revered

American  

[ri-veerd] / rɪˈvɪərd /

adjective

1. held in high regard tinged with awe; venerated.

   Many of our most revered heroes were actually outlaws or rebels, fighting for a cause.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of revere.

Other Word Forms

• unrevered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of revered

revere ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Explanation

If someone is revered, it means he or she is held in deep respect and devotion. Religious leaders, saints, and martyrs are often considered as revered. Celebrities? Not so much. There's a touch of the other worldly about revered. The origins of revered reveal something about its slightly scary, awesome nature. It comes from the Latin word revereri, meaning "to fear," and the addition of the "re" at the beginning is an expression of intensive force, so the word literally means "to greatly fear." People whom are revered are not necessarily those we feel most comfortable around; we are too busy holding them in awe.

Example Sentences

Ms. Wisse is the Iron Lady of the American Jewish right, a revered intellectual and beloved teacher.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

“The movie is revered now, but when it came out, it was crazy, right?” she said in an incredulous tone.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

The Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero holds one of the most revered positions in the Buddhist world - the chief prelate or custodian of eight sacred sites in Sri Lanka.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

Wales -- the cradle of Britain's revered National Health Service and a former industrial powerhouse -- has been a Labour Party stronghold for well over a century.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

And she knew he was revered by the people and even the military.

From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata

Related Words

• admired
• cherished
• dear
• esteemed
• favorite
• hallowed
• loved
• popular
• prized
• respected
• treasured
• venerated
• well-liked