honour

[ on-er ]

noun, verb (used with object), adjectiveChiefly British.

usage note For honour

See -or1.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use honour in a sentence

  • To follow these would be delightful and honouring; but would be to follow what is merely a copy, and only finite.

  • But Alexander was only a religious eclectic, honouring what he thought best in the current systems of belief.

    The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow
  • The name was enough; they could not dine elsewhere, and Ambrose felt that he was honouring the memory of the great Rabelais.

    The Secret Glory | Arthur Machen
  • But her (Auge) he received and brought up well, and cherished in the palace, honouring her even as his own daughters.

  • Not so much honouring thee,As giving it a hope that thereIt could not wither'd be.

    Adventures in Criticism | Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

British Dictionary definitions for honour (1 of 2)

honour

US honor

/ (ˈɒnə) /


noun
  1. personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles

    • fame or glory

    • a person or thing that wins this for another: he is an honour to the school

  1. (often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this

  2. (often plural) high or noble rank

  3. a privilege or pleasure: it is an honour to serve you

  4. a woman's virtue or chastity

    • bridge poker any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps

    • whist any of the top four cards

  5. golf the right to tee off first

  6. do honour to

    • to pay homage to

    • to be a credit to

  7. do the honours

    • to serve as host or hostess

    • to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc

  8. honour bright British school slang an exclamation pledging honour

  9. in honour bound under a moral obligation

  10. in honour of out of respect for

  11. on one's honour or upon one's honour on the pledge of one's word or good name

verb(tr)
  1. to hold in respect or esteem

  2. to show courteous behaviour towards

  1. to worship

  2. to confer a distinction upon

  3. to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)

  4. to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)

  5. to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)

Origin of honour

1
C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem

Derived forms of honour

  • honourer or US honorer, noun
  • honourless or US honorless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for Honour (2 of 2)

Honour

/ (ˈɒnə) /


noun
  1. (preceded by Your, His, or Her)

    • a title used to or of certain judges

    • (in Ireland) a form of address in general use

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