The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word ADMIRAL
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result ADMIRAL
- Endlessly respect a Liberal naval commander
- Mostly respect a large ship’s commander
- Naval officer, mostly commendable, book omitted
- Endless respect little man gives senior officer
- Butterfly is someone looked up to by Lieutenant Pinkerton?
- Endlessly praise a learner, a cadet who really made it?
- Mostly respect a large naval commander
- Superior salt with value to be cut by a pound
- Almost revere a large senior officer
- One engaged in drama at sea leading at the front?
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "One engaged in drama at sea leading at the front?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case one engaged in drama at sea leading at the front? = admiral.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ADMIRAL mean?
ADMIRAL noun- A naval officer of the highest rank; the commander of a country's naval forces.
- A naval officer of high rank, immediately below Admiral of the Fleet; the commander of a fleet or squadron.
- A flag officer in the United States Navy or Coast Guard of a grade superior to vice admiral and junior to admiral of the fleet (when that grade is used). An admiral is equal in grade or rank to a four-star general.
- The ship which carries the admiral, the flagship; also, the most considerable ship of a fleet.
- A prince or Saracen leader under the Sultan.
- Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genera Kaniska and Vanessa, especially a red admiral or white admiral.