Reverence is a deep feeling of respect mixed with awe and love, usually directed toward something or someone you consider sacred, profoundly important, or far greater than yourself. When people feel reverence, they experience a mixture of admiration, humility, and wonder all at once.

You might see reverence when people enter a beautiful cathedral or temple, speaking in hushed voices and moving carefully. A scientist might feel reverence while observing the night sky through a telescope, overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe. A violinist might approach a priceless Stradivarius instrument with reverence, knowing she's holding something precious and irreplaceable.

Reverence isn't the same as simple respect. You can respect your teacher's knowledge without feeling reverence, but when you encounter something that makes you feel small in a good way, something that fills you with wonder and makes you want to be your best self, that's reverence. Religious believers often feel reverence toward God. History students might feel reverence walking through ancient ruins. People can feel reverence toward ideas and principles too, like justice or truth.

The related adjective is reverent, describing behavior that shows reverence. When you're reverent, you treat something with the profound respect it deserves.