(n) When you want to (politely) call someone or something stupid without actually causing any offense
by Bensmart101 February 13, 2023

This is one definition that doesn't speak for everybody, but is a universal common sense definition. Knowing that everybody is not the same, doesn't think the same, doesn't do things the same way without trying to convert the other person to your way of doing things is respect. Once you try and convert other people to your way of doing things, you don't respect them. This applies to people who wear masks, it also applies to people who dont wear masks, and try to run off the people who do wear masks. It also applies to race and statues. Thinking someone should respect your race and your martin luther king statues while trying to get Confederate statues removed is not true respect. Expecting someone to compromise before you can respect them is not respect, it's the opposite. Compromise is also not a sign of growing up.
Elementary school kids learn how to call people sir, ma'am, mr., and mrs., and doing so is not a sign or a symbol of true respect for somebody else, which is why false respect or pretending to respect someone is not better than no respect or disrespect, and is sometimes the exact same thing.
by Solid Mantis June 27, 2020

Can be used as a verb or an adverb.
Giving somebody respect, or to respect for something that happened in the past and told in a story.
Giving somebody respect, or to respect for something that happened in the past and told in a story.
Pops: When i was your age i was in a VietCong POW camp for 2 years.
Kid: Hey i give you retroactive respect for that.
Kid: Hey i give you retroactive respect for that.
by who was that again? August 2, 2011

by TheGeneralGenitalsPranksterian May 15, 2025

Respect me CHILD
by DINGUS WINGUS March 22, 2019
