# reverence

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɹɛv.ə.ɹəns/ · frequency rank #21,915

## Definitions
1. Veneration; profound awe and respect, normally in a sacred context.
2. An act of showing respect, such as a bow.
3. The state of being revered.
4. A form of address for some members of the clergy.
5. That which deserves or exacts manifestations of reverence; reverend character; dignity; state.

## Etymology
From Middle English reverence (noun) and reverencen (verb), from Old French reverence and Latin reverentia, from Latin revereor (“I stand in awe, respect, revere”), from re- + vereor, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to cover, heed, notice”).

## Easily confused with
- **reverend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverence-vs-reverend)
- **reference** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reference-vs-reverence)
- **references** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/references-vs-reverence)

## Common misspellings (14)
`erverence`, `reevrence`, `reveernce`, `reverance`, `reverecne`, `reverencce`, `reverenec`, `reverennce`, `revernece`, `reverrence`, `revreence`, `revverence`, `rreverence`, `rveerence`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reverence