prize

¹prize

noun \ˈprīz\

Definition of PRIZE

1

: something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance; also : premium 1d

2

: something exceptionally desirable

3

archaic : a contest for a reward : competition

Origin of PRIZE

Middle English pris prize, price — more at price

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with PRIZE

guise, rise, size, wise

²prize

adjective

Definition of PRIZE

1

a : awarded or worthy of a prize

b : awarded as a prize

c : entered for the sake of a prize <a prize drawing>

2

: outstanding of a kind <raised prize hogs>

Examples of PRIZE

1. Dad brought back his prize catch, a three-foot striped bass.
2. I felt a prize fool for making such a stupid mistake.

First Known Use of PRIZE

1803

Related to PRIZE

Synonyms

A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool [slang], corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope [slang], down [slang], dynamite, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous [slang], fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters (also gangbuster), gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), gone [slang], grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, hype [slang], immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous (or marvellous), mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, out-of-sight [slang], par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat [slang], prime, primo [slang], excellent, prizewinning, quality, radical [slang], righteous [slang], sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-flight, top-notch, top-of-the-line, topping [chiefly British], top-shelf, unsurpassed, wizard [chiefly British], wonderful

Antonyms

atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched

Related Words

acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK (or okay), passable, satisfactory, tolerable; better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine; classical, standard, traditional

Near Antonyms

bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory; mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

³prize

transitive verb

prizedpriz·ing

Definition of PRIZE

1

: to estimate the value of : rate

2

: to value highly : esteem <a prized possession>

Origin of PRIZE

Middle English prisen, from Anglo-French priser, preiser to appraise, esteem, from Late Latin pretiare, from Latin pretium price, value — more at price

First Known Use: 14th century

⁴prize

noun

Definition of PRIZE

1

: something taken by force, stratagem, or threat; especially : property lawfully captured at sea in time of war

2

: an act of capturing or taking; especially : the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea

Origin of PRIZE

Middle English prise, from Anglo-French, taking, seizure, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get

First Known Use: 14th century

⁵prize

transitive verb

prizedpriz·ing

Definition of PRIZE

: to press, force, or move with a lever : pry

Origin of PRIZE

prize lever

First Known Use: 1686