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Synonyms

award

American  
[uh-wawrd] / əˈwɔrd /

verb (used with object)

  1. to give as due or merited; assign or bestow.

    to award prizes.

  2. to bestow by judicial decree; assign or appoint by deliberate judgment, as in arbitration.

    The plaintiff was awarded damages of $100,000.


noun

  1. something awarded, as a payment or medal.

  2. Law.

    1. a decision after consideration; a judicial sentence.

    2. the decision of arbitrators on a matter submitted to them.

award British  
/ əˈwɔːd /

verb

  1. to give (something due), esp as a reward for merit

    to award prizes

  2. law to declare to be entitled, as by decision of a court of law or an arbitrator

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. something awarded, such as a prize or medal

    an award for bravery

  2. (in Australia and New Zealand) the amount of an award wage (esp in the phrase above award )

  3. law

    1. the decision of an arbitrator

    2. a grant made by a court of law, esp of damages in a civil action

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • awardability noun
  • awardable adverb
  • awardee noun
  • awarder noun
  • misaward verb (used with object)
  • superaward noun
  • unawardable adjective
  • unawarded adjective
  • well-awarded adjective

Etymology

Origin of award

First recorded in 1250–1300; (for the verb) Middle English awarden, from Anglo-French awarder; equivalent to a- 4 + ward; (for the noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French, derivative of awarder

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“They awarded an amount far below what was sought, and declined to award punitive damages altogether.”

From The Wall Street Journal

In awarding Mr. Neil, the Pulitzer board praised his “one-of-a-kind reviews of automobiles, blending technical expertise with offbeat humor and astute cultural criticism.”

From The Wall Street Journal

She won a Deadline Club award for a series on conflicts in the museum world.

From The Wall Street Journal

The side is otherwise settled – no debuts were awarded in November, the first time that has happened in an autumn series for England in 26 years.

From BBC

Baldur's Gate 3 launched to monumental critical and commercial acclaim in 2023, selling over 20 million copies and becoming the first game ever to win all five major Game of the Year awards.

From BBC