award

American  

[uh-wawrd] / əˈwɔrd /

verb (used with object)

awards, present (3rd person singular) awarded, past participle, past awarding present participle

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.

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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

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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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has awarded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have awarded
  perfect
• is awarding
  progressive 3rd person singular
• awards
  singular 3rd person
• are awarding
  progressive
• awarding
  participle
• has been awarding
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been awarding
  perfect progressive
• am awarding
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had awarded
  perfect
• awarded
  participle
• were awarding
  progressive plural
• was awarding
  progressive singular
• had been awarding
  perfect progressive
• awarded
  simple

Future

• will award
  simple
• will have awarded
  perfect
• will have been awarding
  perfect progressive
• will be awarding
  progressive

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

Explanation

The noun award refers to a prize of some kind that indicates you’ve done well and achieved an honor. The verb form of award describes giving out one of these honors. So your teacher may award you the Math Genius award. Award can be something given out by a court of law. For example, a judge might give you a monetary award when you win a lawsuit. Award can also be something you get when you're the big winner. The state lottery commission might award you $35 when you hit the lottery. Award comes from the Old English word weardian, meaning “guard” — which is exactly what you should do with that $35.

Example Sentences

And when “Salesman” won for best revival, it was only fitting that Lane accepted the award on behalf of the company about a play that, ultimately, he pointed out, is about a family.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

The award for Best Musical went to "Schmigadoon!," a humorous tribute to Broadway's greatest hits and an adaptation of the series of the same name.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

He has already claimed the Golden Shoe award for Europe's leading goalscorer.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

The next likely contender for the award is “The Lost Boys,” a spectacle-heavy, bloated stage version of the B-movie from the 1980s about young vampires marauding in a California beach town.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

“My daughter won an award for English and her friend got the highest GPA in the ninth grade,” Mr. Doyle brags.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na

Related Words

• accolade
• citation
• decision
• donation
• endowment
• gift
• gold
• grant
• honor
• presentation
• scholarship
• trophy
• verdict