26984 words

sirs

13 definitions • 12 examples
1
used as a formal and polite way of speaking to a man, especially one who you are providing a service to or who is in a position of authority:

Examples:

Would you like to see the menu, sir?
"Did you hear what I said?" "Yes, Sir."
2
sometimes used by children to address or refer to teachers who are men:

Examples:

Can I go to the toilet, sir?
3
used after the name of a man, especially one who is in a position of authority, in order to be polite or show respect:

Examples:

John Sir
4
used to begin a formal letter to a man whose name you do not know. "Dear Sirs" is an old fashioned way of beginning a letter to a company:

Examples:

Dear Sir, I am writing in response to your recent request for information.
5
used to begin a formal letter when you do not know if the person you are writing to is a man or a woman:

Examples:

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my concern over the recent proposal to build housing on Orchard Park.
6
used as the title of a knight (= a man who has been given a rank of honour by a British king or queen), with a first name or with both first and family names, but never with just the family name:

Examples:

Sir Walter (Scott)
7
a polite word used to address a man:

Examples:

Excuse me, sir, do you know what time it is?
8
Sir is used at the beginning of a formal letter to a man you do not know:

Examples:

Dear Sir
9
(also Sir)used as a title with the first or full name of a man given a rank of honor by a king or queen
10
a formal and polite way of speaking to a man:

Examples:

May I help you, Sir?
11
the usual way of beginning a formal letter to a man whose name you do not know:

Examples:

Dear Sir, I am writing to complain about the quality of the service I received last week.
12
used to begin a formal letter when you do not know whether the person you are writing to is a man or a woman:

Examples:

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inform you that I wish to cancel my credit card.
13
used to begin a letter to a company when you do not have someone's name to write to directly

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