award

[uh-wawrd]

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

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of award¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of award¹

C14: from Anglo-Norman awarder, from Old Northern French eswarder to decide after investigation, from es- _ex- ¹ + warder to observe; see _ward

Example Sentences

The list includes five of seven projects to develop clean hydrogen energy in the United States awarded under President Biden.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It has felt the heat before; when the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo got the award in 2010, Beijing froze diplomatic ties with Oslo and imposed economic sanctions in a row that lasted six years.

Read more on BBC

The studio recently released the Paul Thomas Anderson film “One Battle After Another,” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, that is generating awards buzz and has so far grossed $106 million in global ticket sales.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In June, the 29-year-old former teacher was awarded a scholarship at Durham University to study educational leadership and change.

Read more on BBC

It is the third science prize awarded this week.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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