prize

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
: something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance
2
: something exceptionally desirable
3
archaic : a contest for a reward : competition

prize

2 of 5

adjective

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

prize

3 of 5

verb (1)

prized; prizing

transitive verb

1
: to estimate the value of : rate
2
: to value highly : esteem
a prized possession

prize

4 of 5

noun (2)

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

prize

5 of 5

verb (2)

prized; prizing

transitive verb

: to press, force, or move with a lever : pry
Choose the Right Synonym for prize

Verb (1)

appreciate, value, prize, treasure, cherish mean to hold in high estimation.

appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.

appreciates fine wine

value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

Noun (2)

spoil, plunder, booty, prize, loot mean something taken from another by force or craft.

spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

Examples of prize in a Sentence

Noun (1) in the view of most of her friends, her current boyfriend is certainly no prize the Pritzker Architecture Prize is the world's most prestigious honor in the field of architecture Adjective Dad brought back his prize catch, a three-foot striped bass. I felt a prize fool for making such a stupid mistake. Verb (1) veterinarians know that pets are highly prized by their owners Verb (2) prizing the stubborn nails out of the board trying to prize apart the jammed gears
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
In-store Powerball purchasers can select the Double Play option to use their numbers in a second drawing immediately following the regular Powerball drawing for a chance to win additional prizes up to $10,000,000. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2024 Diop herself voiced a similar sentiment just before her film won the top prize at the Berlinale film festival earlier this year. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
For one thing, at a school that prized physical grace, Heff was a terrible athlete. Mark Oppenheimer, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Oct. 2024 In the height of the singer-songwriter era, when earnest autobiographical confessions were prized as tokens of authenticity, Newman’s use of sarcasm and unlikable protagonists was an act of literary radicalism in pop music. David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prize 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pris prize, price — more at price entry 1

Verb (1)

Middle English prisen, from Anglo-French priser, preiser to appraise, esteem, from Late Latin pretiare, from Latin pretium price, value — more at price entry 1

Noun (2)

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

Verb (2)

prize lever

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1739, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1574, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prize was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prize

Cite this Entry

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prize. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

prize

1 of 5 noun
1
: something won or to be won in a contest
2
: something unusually valuable or eagerly sought

prize

2 of 5 adjective
1
a
: awarded a prize
a prize essay
b
: awarded as a prize
prize money
2
: outstanding of its kind
a prize fool
a prize student

prize

3 of 5 verb
prized; prizing
1
: to estimate the value of
2
: to value highly : treasure

prize

4 of 5 noun
: something taken (as in war) especially at sea

prize

5 of 5 verb
prized; prizing
: to force or move with or as if with a lever : pry
Etymology

Noun

Middle English pris "prize, price, value," from early French pris (same meaning), from Latin pretium "price, money" — related to price

Verb

Middle English prisen "to appraise, esteem," from early French prisier (same meaning), from Latin pretiare (same meaning), from earlier pretium (noun) "price, value"

Noun

Middle English prise "something taken by force or threat," from early French prise "taking, seizure," from prendre "to take," from Latin prehendere "to take"

Legal Definition

prize

noun
1
: property (as a ship) lawfully captured in time of war
2
: the wartime capture of a ship and its cargo at sea

More from Merriam-Webster on prize

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