reverend

1 of 2

adjective

rev·​er·​end ˈrev-rənd How to pronounce reverend (audio)
ˈre-və-;
ˈre-vərnd
1
: worthy of reverence : revered
2
a
: of or relating to the clergy
b
: being a member of the clergy
used as a title
the Reverend Mr. Doe
the Reverend John Doe
the Reverend Mrs. Jane Doe

reverend

2 of 2

noun

: a member of the clergy
sometimes used in plural as a title

Examples of reverend in a Sentence

Adjective our reverend elders should be accorded a special place of honor at the ceremonies Noun called their reverend and asked if he could marry them next June
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Kristen Harper, a reverend and senior minister at Barnstable Unitarian Church, has spoken about the Reverse Freedom Riders during several sermons of the past. Rachael Devaney, USA TODAY, 17 Sep. 2022 No one was a better fit for the job to officiate Richie and Madden's 2010 wedding than the Run DMC frontman, who is a reverend IRL. Grace Gavilanes, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2022 There before the reverend mother and God, the police (wielding rifles) and the butchers (wielding a cow trailer) managed to corral two of the steers. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2022 Dickens was a great admirer of a reverend philosopher of that name, often carrying around a copy of Smith's Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Feb. 2022
Noun
This is good sourcing, particularly if the Black reverends see themselves as community representatives. Subramaniam Vincent, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The reverend last week launched an appeal for donations on GoFundMe to try to raise money that can be used to stabilize the area and, ideally, help with the long-term needs of the aging chapel. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The detail that had caught the photographer’s eye in the MLK photo showed the reverend removing his shoes before walking on to the Gandhi Memorial. Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 The reverend’s wife grew up in Detroit, and her empathy for the formerly enslaved had been shaped in part by the Blackburns’ story. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 9 Feb. 2024 Later, Hamm joined Kemper on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, playing Kimmy's reverend kidnapper Richard Wayne Gary Wayne. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2023 Honor the reverend’s legacy at what’s regarded as the nation’s longest-running celebration of its kind, featuring floats, marching bands, drumlines, performaces and more. Kamren Curiel, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024 Roth wondered aloud about what will happen to the nativities after the reverend passes away. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Dec. 2023 During the 10-minute service, the cathedral’s dean, the sub-dean, and the reverend canon led prayers for the royal couple. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reverend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin reverendus, gerundive of reverērī "to stand in awe of, revere entry 1"

Noun

derivative of reverend entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1608, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reverend was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near reverend

Cite this Entry

“Reverend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverend. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reverend

1 of 2 adjective
rev·​er·​end ˈrev-(ə-)rənd How to pronounce reverend (audio)
ˈrev-ərnd
1
: worthy of reverence : revered
these reverend halls
2
used as a title for a member of the clergy
the Reverend Ms. Doe
the Reverend John Doe
the Reverend Mother Superior

reverend

2 of 2 noun
: a member of the clergy

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