Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Feeling or showing reverence and adoration for a deity: Characterized by profound religious devotion and veneration.
   • Showing great respect or esteem for a person or thing: Used to describe deep, often formal, respect akin to reverence.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The worshipful congregation sang hymns with deep feeling. (The reverent congregation sang hymns with deep feeling.)
  • He gave a worshipful bow to the ancient relic. (He gave a deeply respectful bow to the ancient relic.)
  • She listened to the elder's stories with a worshipful attitude. (She listened to the elder's stories with an attitude of great respect.)

Advanced Usage

• As a formal title (capitalized): In British tradition, used as a respectful form of address for certain officials, such as mayors or masters of guilds.
  • I present the Worshipful Mayor of the city. (I present the honorable Mayor of the city.)
• "worshipful silence": A silence filled with reverence.
  • They observed a moment of worshipful silence at the memorial. (They observed a moment of reverent silence at the memorial.)

Variants and Related Words

• Worship (n/v): The act of showing reverence and adoration; to honor with religious rites or profound respect.
  • They attended a service of worship. (They attended a religious service.)
• Worshipper (n): A person who shows reverence and adoration, especially to a deity.
  • The temple was filled with worshippers. (The temple was filled with devotees.)

Synonyms

• Reverent: Feeling or showing deep and solemn respect.
• Adoring: Showing great love and respect.
• Venerating: Regarding with great respect.

Antonyms

• Disrespectful: Showing a lack of respect or courtesy.
• Irreverent: Showing a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously.

Adjective

1. showing great reverence for god
   • a godly man
   • leading a godly life
2. showing adoration