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courteous

adjective
cour·​te·​ous | \ ˈkər-tē-əs How to pronounce courteous (audio) , British also ˈkȯ-\

Definition of courteous

1 : marked by polished manners, gallantry, or ceremonial usage of a court
2 : marked by respect for and consideration of others
Other Words from courteous Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about courteous

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Other Words from courteous

courteously adverb
courteousness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for courteous

civil, polite, courteous, gallant, chivalrous mean observant of the forms required by good breeding. civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness. owed the questioner a civil reply polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality. if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness. clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women. gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy. a gallant suitor of the old school chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior. a chivalrous display of duty

Examples of courteous in a Sentence

There was no doubt that his stubbornly held and trenchantly expressed views—his trenchancy always tempered, however, by his gently courteous manner—contributed significantly to his unpopularity … — Simon Winchester, The Man Who Loved China, 2008 … she has seen generations of boys come and go, some well groomed and courteous, others rough and uppity … — Julian Barnes, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 1990
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Nonetheless, be courteous when traveling with meat and seal it up well, with an aim to keep any smells or juices contained. — Cynthia Drescher, Condé Nast Traveler, "Can You Bring Food on a Plane? Your Guide to Airport Security and Food," 6 Sep. 2019 Black recently returned from a cycling trip through France and Germany and said drivers are much more courteous there than in the states, even though many of their roads are more narrow. — Mary Grace Keller, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Cyclists, motorists encouraged to ‘share the road’ after series of recent serious collisions," 26 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'courteous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of courteous

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for courteous

Middle English corteis, from Anglo-French curteis, from curt

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More Definitions for courteous

courteous

adjective
How to pronounce courteous (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of courteous

: very polite in a way that shows respect

See the full definition for courteous in the English Language Learners Dictionary

courteous

adjective
cour·​te·​ous | \ ˈkər-tē-əs How to pronounce courteous (audio) \

Kids Definition of courteous

: showing respect and consideration for others : polite

Other Words from courteous

courteously adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on courteous

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for courteous

Spanish Central: Translation of courteous

Nglish: Translation of courteous for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of courteous for Arabic Speakers

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