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

Adjective Dad brought back his prize catch, a three-foot striped bass. I felt a prize fool for making such a stupid mistake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The last winner to cash in a jackpot won a prize worth $842.4 million on New Year’s Day. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to $735 million for Tuesday night's drawing after no one won the big prize on Friday. USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 The Megaplier feature increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four or five times. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 12 Mar. 2024 The third-largest prize of $1.348 billion was won last year in Maine. Alex Sundby, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 First-time feature director Jefferson’s film became a surprise hit of awards season, and was nominated for the top prize, as well as for Jeffrey Wright’s lead performance, Sterling K. Brown’s supporting role, its score — and then winning adapted screenplay. Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 This meant Mary Steenburgen, Lupita Nyong’o, Jamie Lee Curtis, Regina King, and Rita Moreno coming out to bestow the prize for best supporting actress, while Sam Rockwell, Tim Robbins, Ke Huy Quan, Christoph Waltz, and Mahershala Ali handed out best supporting actor. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024 The event features egg hunts starting at 1 p.m. by age up to 12 and a raffle along with five carnival-style booths with exciting games and prizes. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 According to the lottery, Martins is the 11th Massachusetts resident to win the big prize, but his story is still unique. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Boosted by Spain’s subsidy system, which prizes new features, the Screenings feature new talent. John Hopewell, Variety, 3 Mar. 2024 The affluent suburb has long been prized for its quiet seclusion and grand residences. Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 But in a surprise change-up, the Fusilier announcement also included the addition of a gasoline range extender option intended to help minimize the effects of range anxiety for potential buyers who prized the Grenadier and Quartermaster’s off-roading and overlanding capability. Michael Van Runkle, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Those companies also can’t survive in country whose government persistently prizes political point-scoring over practical problem solving. Alan Murray, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2024 Regular renters are often prized by landlords, who offer discounts to good and reliable annual tenants as both rewards and incentives. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2024 This segment of What’s Ahead examines why Ukraine’s recent loss of a town to Russian forces because defenders were short of munitions, as well as the blatant murder of Russia’s foremost dissident in an arctic gulag should seriously unsettle everyone who prizes freedom. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Former Republican President Ronald Reagan railed against the détente prized by Nixon and his secretary of state, Henry Kissinger. Elizabeth N. Saunders, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Enjoy a live watch party experience featuring food and drink specials, Super Bowl commercial bingo and massive raffle prizes every quarter. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prize.' 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

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 19 Mar. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!