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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 He joined us in the Yellow Room with … his son, a thoughtful, courteous, nice doctor … — Lady Bird Johnson 27 May 1964, in A White House Diary,  1970 The clerks were helpful and courteous. their customer service department always gives courteous responses, even to rude people
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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 All guests must behave in a family-friendly, respectful, and courteous manner, and in a manner which is safe for themselves and for others. — Patrick May, The Mercury News, "Yes, water park etiquette is a thing: Brawl over towel at Northern California park raises questions about rules," 27 Aug. 2019 Youth workers have to follow certain standards and are expected to complete jobs in a timely and courteous manner. — courant.com, "Community News For The Hebron Edition," 25 July 2019 That includes good citizens of the community who are friendly, cautious and courteous behind the wheel. — Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "Letters: Exposing abuse in the Boy Scouts of America (8/11/19)," 11 Aug. 2019 Played with locked jaw and a terrible haircut by Jared Keeso, the show’s co-creator and writer, Wayne is king of the hicks, a courteous ladykiller in stonewashed jeans. — Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, "“Letterkenny,” a Surreal Canadian Comedy to Rival “Schitt’s Creek”," 7 Aug. 2019 In both instances, the courteous folks working in the Riverview Station post office have quickly responded and swung into action to resolve a problem not of their making. — Sainted & Tainted Writers, Twin Cities, "Hey, post office problem-solvers … you’re sainted!," 20 July 2019 Hospitality: Hit Everyone working at the tournament, from the volunteers at the main entrance to the people holding ropes to vendors and Detroit police officers working at the event, were beyond courteous and helpful. — Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, "Here's what the Rocket Mortgage Classic got right — and what it got wrong," 30 June 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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