award

1 of 2

verb

awarded; awarding; awards

transitive verb

1
: to confer or bestow as being deserved or merited or needed
award scholarships to disadvantaged students
2
: to give by judicial decree or after careful consideration
The jury awarded damages to the defendant.
award a contract
awardable adjective
awardee noun
awarder noun

award

2 of 2

noun

1
: something that is conferred or bestowed especially on the basis of merit or need
a film that has won several awards
2
a
: a judgment or final decision
especially : the decision of arbitrators in a case submitted to them
b
: the document containing the decision of arbitrators
Choose the Right Synonym for award

grant, concede, vouchsafe, accord, award mean to give as a favor or a right.

grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

Examples of award in a Sentence

Verb The judges will award a prize to the best speaker. The winner was awarded a gold medal. A prize will be awarded to the student who sells the most tickets. The jury awarded damages to the defendant. The company is awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. He was awarded a patent for his invention. Noun Will the film win any awards at the festival? She has won numerous awards for her books.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
In awarding Cole what was then the richest contract for a pitcher in baseball history, the Yankees outbid the Dodgers. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024 Players might be awarded a prize card with a few ballots (collect 100 to start making your way to Trump) or a hostage (Pence, for example); an item card (batons, gas masks, tasers, other things that come in handy when battling fellow insurrectionists or cops); or an event card. Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2024
Noun
The 2024 Sentinel Awards has unveiled its winners ahead of next week’s ceremony, when awards will be handed out at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills to honor TV series including Grey’s Anatomy, The Morning Show, Abbott Elementary and Hacks. Katie Campione, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2024 The film also won the grand jury award for best picture at the 2024 Orlando International Film Festival. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for award 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'award.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, to decide, from Anglo-French awarder, agarder to look at, examine, resolve, from a- (from Latin ad-) + warder, garder to look after, guard — more at guard

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of award was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near award

Cite this Entry

“Award.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/award. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

award

1 of 2 verb
1
: to give by court decision (as after a lawsuit)
award damages
2
: to give or grant as a reward
award a prize to the best speaker

award

2 of 2 noun
: something (as a prize) that is awarded

Legal Definition

award

1 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to give in accordance with a judicial or administrative determination or decision
award punitive damages
2
: to grant as deserved
awarded the contract to the lowest bidder

award

2 of 2 noun
1
: a judgment or final decision: as
b
: a formal decision regarding benefits in a workers' compensation claim
2
: something granted especially on the basis of merit or entitlement: as
a
: a contract won by a successful bidder
b
: relief usually in the form of money (as damages or alimony) granted to a party in a legal proceeding
Etymology

Transitive verb

Anglo-French awarder, agarder to look at, decide on, impose, alteration of Old French esguarder to look at, from es-, intensive prefix + guarder to guard

More from Merriam-Webster on award

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