prize
1 Americannoun
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a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition.
- Synonyms:
- premium
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something that is won in a lottery or the like.
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anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued.
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something seized or captured, especially an enemy's ship and cargo captured at sea in wartime.
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the act of taking or capturing, especially a ship at sea.
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Archaic. a contest or match.
adjective
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having won a prize.
a prize bull; a prize play.
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worthy of a prize.
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given or awarded as a prize.
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being an excellent example of something, especially something undesirable.
He makes his daughter's husband feel like a prize idiot whenever they get together.
verb (used with object)
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to value or esteem highly.
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to estimate the worth or value of.
noun
noun
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a reward or honour for victory or for having won a contest, competition, etc
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( as modifier )
prize jockey
prize essay
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something given to the winner of any game of chance, lottery, etc
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something striven for
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any valuable property captured in time of war, esp a vessel
verb
verb
Usage
What are other ways to say prize?
To prize something is to value or esteem it highly. How is prize different from esteem, value, and appreciate? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Related Words
See reward.
Etymology
Origin of prize1
First recorded in 1250–1300; in senses referring to something seized, continuing Middle English prise “something captured, a seizing, requisition,” from Old French prise “capture (of a ship), booty,” from Vulgar Latin prēsa, prēnsa (unrecorded), from Latin pre(hē)nsa, noun use of feminine past participle of pre(he)ndere “to take, grasp, seize”; in senses referring to something won, spelling variant since the late 16th century of Middle English pris(e) price
Origin of prize2
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English prisen “to set a price, appraise,” from Middle French prisier, priser, variants of Old French preisier “to value, appraise”; see praise
Origin of prize3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun prise, from Middle French prise “a hold, grasp,” from Latin pre(hē)nsa; see prize 1
Explanation
A prize is the reward or recognition a winner gets. When you win first prize in your state spelling bee, you might get a medal and a trip to the national competition in Washington, DC. Many prizes are given for hard work, athletic skill, or superior intellect, but it's also possible to win a prize from sheer good luck. The prize for a winning lottery ticket, for example, might be a million dollars. If your dog comes in first at an obedience competition, you can call her your "prize pup." And if you adore and value that dog more than anything else, you can say you prize her.
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.
Here, with an FA Cup final against Manchester City back at Wembley on 16 May as the prize, those qualities miraculously – or perhaps predictably – returned, allowing Chelsea to grind out victory.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., may take the prize in this dubious category, however.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
The prize for the winners at Wembley this weekend is the chance to go back there next month.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
“A melody, rhythm, some understanding of another person or another culture. The way those experiences add up, in the soul of a person over the years, is the biggest prize classical music possesses.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
Lewind seized the bingo prize money, just in case the nickel had somehow wound up there.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
