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

“We will stabilize demand signals. We will award companies bigger, longer contracts for proven systems,” to assure companies that expanding production lines will pay, he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A resident and restaurant owner sued Cantrell, arguing her intent to award the contract to Henry Consulting would result in worse service.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Earlier in the year, he received the Disruptor of the Year award at the Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards, held in Liverpool.

Read more on BBC

There were over 150 Italian cars there, and my Vespa 400 won a people’s choice award.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2024, she was awarded a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant,” for calling attention to the “prejudice disabled people face and to the policies that adversely affect them.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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