deferential
def-uh-REN-shuladjMeaning showing polite respect and readiness to give way to others
Memory hook DEFER: you go FIRST. At the door, Dev steps back, bows a little and lets Granny Mae go first; showing her that polite respect is being deferential.
The young players were deferential to their coach, listening closely and never interrupting.
In context Though he outranked everyone on board, the new captain was deferential, asking the older sailors for advice before giving a single order.
Similar respectful, polite, courteous, dutiful
Opposite insolent, impudent, disrespectful
From deference, from defer (to yield to another person’s wishes), from Latin deferre (to carry down, to hand over).