medal
Americannoun
-
medals
plural
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a flat piece of metal, often a disk but sometimes a cross, star, or other form, usually bearing an inscription or design, issued to commemorate a person, action, or event, or given as a reward for bravery, merit, or the like.
a gold medal for the best swimmer.
-
a similar object bearing a religious image, as of a saint.
a Saint Christopher's medal.
verb (used with object)
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medals,
present (3rd person singular)
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medaled,
past participle, past
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medalled,
past participle, past (especially British)
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medaling,
present participle
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medalling
present participle (especially British)
verb (used without object)
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medals,
present (3rd person singular)
-
medaled,
past participle, past
-
medalled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
medaling,
present participle
-
medalling
present participle (especially British)
noun
verb
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(tr) to honour with a medal
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informal (intr) (in sport) to win a medal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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medalsimple
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medalssimple
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have medaledperfect
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have medalledperfect
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has medaledperfect
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has medalledperfect
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am medalingprogressive
-
am medallingprogressive
-
are medalingprogressive
-
are medallingprogressive
-
is medalingprogressive
-
is medallingprogressive
-
have been medalingperfect progressive
-
have been medallingperfect progressive
-
has been medalingperfect progressive
-
has been medallingperfect progressive
Past
-
medaledsimple
-
medalledsimple
-
had medaledperfect
-
had medalledperfect
-
was medalingprogressive
-
was medallingprogressive
-
were medalingprogressive
-
were medallingprogressive
-
had been medalingperfect progressive
-
had been medallingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of medal
1580–90; earlier medaille < Middle French < Italian medaglia copper coin worth a halfpenny < Vulgar Latin *medalia, variant (by dissimilation) of Late Latin mediālia, noun use of neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of mediālis medial
Explanation
A medal is an award for some contest or achievement. You might win a medal for coming in third place at the cupcake baking championship. A medal is often a flat piece of metal that's stamped with an inscription or design and is given in honor of winning a race, serving in battle, or another remarkable accomplishment. Scholars, athletes, and soldiers all might win medals. Originally, a medal was a "trinket," and it wasn't until the 18th century that it began to mean "reward for merit."
Vocabulary lists containing medal
Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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List 1
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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.
See Examples For:
He recently went to the White House to receive a medal from President Trump, alongside Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
“I have never been surer of anything in my life,” adding a generous tip for Tyler, who deserved a combat medal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
His announcement came hours before Trump was due to award Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the most prestigious US technology medal at a ceremony in Washington.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Ali Brigginshaw has missed out on the chance to go for a fourth World Cup winners' medal after being omitted from Australia's women's squad.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
The officials at the school were accommodating, however, and instead of chastising him for his sometimes shoddy work, they awarded him a gold medal for becoming the youngest grandmaster in history.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The 27-year-old, who had also been expected to contend for medals in the individual sprint and keirin, said he would co-operate with a British Cycling investigation into the allegations.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Some 40 works—including statues, reliefs, medals and more, many of which have never been shown outside of Tuscany—reveal the genius of Donatello, Vecchietta, Francesco di Giorgio and others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The hosts finished with 83 golds, a distant second in the medals table behind China with 169.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
"Some players want medals, all players want money," one agent said to BBC Sport.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Plaques decorated the wood-paneled walls, along with a framed display of military medals and ribbons.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
The dog that almost medaled at the Olympics.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 19, 2026
Since becoming an independent country in 2006, Serbia has medaled in every Olympic tournament it has played in, with its last two medals being gold.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2024
“Obviously it wasn’t my best performances, but at the end of the day, whoever medaled, medaled, and that’s what’s so exciting, because you just never know with gymnastics,” she said.
From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2024
It wasn’t enough to keep the U.S. from heading home from the World Cup empty-handed, and after 87 years of waiting Canada has again medaled on one of basketball’s biggest stages.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 10, 2023
Then again, given that this was my first season as an elite junior gymnast, I’d medaled more than I thought I would.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
I doubt I had ever seen so many uniformed, braided and medalled men under one roof.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2018
"For Deibold to medal is a testament to how strong our team is, because any of us could have medalled."
From Reuters ● Feb. 18, 2014
But few athletes were described as having medalled, and none of having podiumed.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2012
"I can happily say that I have been in four Olympic Games finals, which is incredible, and I'm glad that I've medalled in four as well," she said.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 3, 2012
If the Senate only medalled enough, that was all he asked.
From Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 11, June 11, 1870 by Various
With one surgically rebuilt knee and a completely torn ACL in the other, the 41-year-old Vonn gutted her way to the starting gate and had a real chance of medaling before her violent crash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026
After medaling in duets at two world championships, he retired again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2024
Olympic and Paralympic Committee does pay Team USA athletes for medaling but not for competing in the Olympics, although they can apply for grants to support their training and travel.
From Slate ● Aug. 9, 2024
The finalists who came close to medaling were:
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2023
I jumped right up and finished the event, but I knew I had no chance of medaling now.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
The United States finished with 69 points with Japan scoring 68 and Italy medalling for the first time in the team event with 60.
From Barron's ● Feb. 8, 2026
So in terms of "medalling" the countries, it has to be bronze to the Netherlands, silver to Jamaica and shiny gold to the Czech Republic.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 6, 2012
Twitter users have spent days exploiting the Scooby Doo-inspired "we could have got gold if it wasn't for you medalling kids" gag.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2012
"It is rather a dangerous pastime, Mr. Lenoir, this medalling fancy of yours," he said.
From Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks Book Number Fifteen in the Jack Harkaway Series by Bracebridge Hemyng
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