sir
∞
1.0
- noun
- /sɜr/
- Formal
:
señor
- The waiter addressed the gentleman as sir when he took his order.
- Yes, sir
- No, sir
- Please, sir
For me, and I suspect for you, Sir, it isn't.
- For me, and I suspect for you, Sir, it isn't.
- Max, as I think that you, Sir, lie.
- Yes, Sir, yes, Sir, five days full onward.
- They're like, Sir, what gun do you want?
- And he's like, he's like, Sir, it's such a cold case.
- Look, I never thought I'd say this, but Sir, please build the wall.
- Ohio University, man, thank you for calling Sir in Athens, OH.
Examples
-
I'm sorry, sir, but we're not allowed to give out that information.
-
Would you like a drink before dinner, sir?
-
It's not far, sir, and it's much more comfortable.
-
But one more glass, sir, one more glass of wine before you go!
Academic text (2015) -
By George, you are learning, sir, to keep your eyes open and read the world.
Fiction book (1990) -
A minute later, I was back and said, "Excuse me, sir, but are you..."
Fiction book (1990) -
I have my orders, sir, and I always obey orders.
-
You could be a little more respectful, sir.
-
No, I've never met you before, sir.
-
"A great big giant of a man was he, yes sir!" goes this odd folk song from 1938.
Academic text (2011)
Synonyms
185
8.0
A casual word for a man
7
9.9
A friendly informal way to address a man to show respect
4
9.9
A polite way to call a man, used in South Asia and the Caribbean
1
9.9
A respectful old title for a man used in stories
A respectful word used to address someone in authority
Idioms
Compounds
- Offensive
A joking name for someone with little formal education, especially in Latin
How Respectful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Sir comes from old words like sire and senior, which meant 'older' or 'an older man'. So we use sir today as a polite, formal way to address a man to show respect.