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

Both of those series were dedicated to presenting American Muslim life in a way that was neither overly reverential nor simplistic and stilted. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026

Luccardi’s relationship with it was rather less reverential by the end of the shoot. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

There was the viral pleasure and even pride in seeing foreigners encounter Buc-ee’s with reverential appreciation or giddily experience industrial quantities of Mountain Dew Baja Blast at Taco Bell. — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Japan’s players, initially reverential to the point of deference in Zico’s presence, came out of their shells. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 29 June 2026

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
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential
• referential

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