pay respect

Meaning

To show polite behavior, admiration, or deep honor to someone, especially to an elder, a leader, or someone who has died (often used in the plural form 'pay respects').

Examples

• We visited the memorial to pay respect to the soldiers who lost their lives.

  We visited the memorial to pay respect to the soldiers who lost their lives.

• It is important to pay respect to local customs when traveling abroad.

  It is important to pay respect to local customs when traveling abroad.

• Many people came to the funeral to pay their respects to the family.

  Many people came to the funeral to pay their respects to the family.

• Students are taught to pay respect to their teachers and peers.

  Students are taught to pay respect to their teachers and peers.

• She bowed her head to pay respect during the moment of silence.

  She bowed her head to pay respect during the moment of silence.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We must give respect to our elders.

  ✓ We must pay respect to our elders.

  While 'give respect' is sometimes used casually, 'pay respect' (or 'show respect') is the standard, more formal collocation.

• ✗ They went to the cemetery to pay their respect.

  ✓ They went to the cemetery to pay their respects.

  When attending a funeral or visiting a grave, the plural form 'pay respects' is almost always used.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The prime minister arrived at the monument to ___ to the former leader.

  💡 Show honor and admiration.

  Show answer

  pay respect

• They went to the funeral home to ___ to their late neighbor.

  💡 Show honor to someone who died (plural form).

  Show answer

  pay respects