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

Derived Forms

• aˌwardˈee, noun
• aˈwardable, adjective
• aˈwarder, noun

Other Words From

• a·warda·bili·ty noun
• a·warda·ble adverb
• a·warder noun
• misa·ward verb (used with object)
• super·a·ward noun
• una·warda·ble adjective
• una·warded adjective
• well-a·warded adjective

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

That might be just what the 72-year-old award show needs to stave off irrelevance.

From Quartz

In recent years, you have publicly criticized the industry, especially in relation to the awards and rankings that have come to dominate it.

From Eater

Weber regularly contributes to major newspapers and magazines, such as National Geographic, GEO, and Die Zeit, and has won a number of awards for his writing.

From Nautilus

What is clear, however, is that when the foundation does grant awards again, the process will likely be quite different.

From Eater

Her total numbers probably don’t support winning the award, but other than Dangerfield, it’s hard to point to a rookie who has had a greater impact on a playoff-bound team.

From FiveThirtyEight

But I had won the British Award, Best Foreign Actor, so I went.

From The Daily Beast

From Ann Coulter on Ebola to evangelicals on climate change, 2014 was full of award-worthy science denialism.

From The Daily Beast

The award surprised Lewis, but it also struck the right note.

From The Daily Beast

His photography has won more than a hundred awards, including the prestigious Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography.

From The Daily Beast

Near the end of my time with Hitchcock, the American Film Institute is preparing to honor him with their Life Achievement Award.

From The Daily Beast

I issued my award, with the usual result that while each party was fairly well pleased neither was altogether satisfied.

From Project Gutenberg

These men composed a self-constituted tribunal to award life or instant death to those brought before them.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, even the discovery which made chemistry a science, has attached to it in their award this feeble appendage.

From Project Gutenberg

The world is usually just, and it will ultimately award the tokens of its approbation to those who deserve success.

From Project Gutenberg

To the party present in the afternoon the magistrate shall award the suit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• allocate
• allot
• assign
• bestow
• confer
• distribute
• donate
• grant
• hand out
• present
• reward