prize

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈprīz

Synonyms of prize next

: something offered or striven for in competition or in contests of chance

also : premium sense 1d

: something exceptionally desirable

archaic : a contest for a reward : competition

prize

2 of 5

adjective

: awarded or worthy of a prize

: awarded as a prize

: entered for the sake of a prize

a prize drawing

: outstanding of a kind

raised prize hogs

prize

3 of 5

verb (1)

prized; prizing

transitive verb

: to estimate the value of : rate

: to value highly : esteem

a prized possession

prize

4 of 5

noun (2)

: something taken by force, stratagem, or threat

especially : property lawfully captured at sea in time of war

: 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

Example Sentences

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 prize: a chance to come to Paris and work at Cardin. —

Tina Isaac-goizé, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2023 In the process, the lead actor prize, and just about every other that followed the altercation, became an afterthought. —

Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2023 Since its third edition in 2005, the Little Rock Marathon has awarded those who complete the race with a distinct, intricate prize -- enormous in size while also extravagant in detail. —

Mitchell Gladstone, Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2023 The latest prize: a gold medal for Olmais Organic oil at the World’s Best Olive Oils awards in New York. 3. —

Paul Ames, CNN, 5 Mar. 2023 This year, the festival is also launching a new prize, the Goya Quick Bites Short Film Award. —

Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Mar. 2023 Everything Everywhere All at Once has scored the top prize at the Producers Guild of America Awards, a key Oscar bellwether. —

Brendan Morrow, The Week, 26 Feb. 2023 The most famous of the big Mardi Gras krewes—groups like Rex and Zulu—are best known for their long bead-and-prize-throwing uptown parades featuring dozens of floats and thousands of people. —

Nathaniel Adams, Chron, 19 Feb. 2023 The editing prize, often an indicator for Best Picture, went to Hacksaw Ridge, eliciting flashbacks to Trump winning Pennsylvania early on Election Night. —

Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023

Verb

For years, women there had come to prize their freedoms — working in government, journalism and other formerly male-only occupations and going to school and college. —

Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 These names are Cantonese, but other Chinese communities prize very similar, if not identical, preparations. —

Tse Wei Lim, BostonGlobe.com, 7 June 2022 Accordingly, designers and luxury companies such as Balenciaga that prize themselves for being on fashion’s leading edge have been making denim with baggier fits. —

Marc Bain, Quartz, 9 Apr. 2021 The governorship is the perfect job for someone who wants to do things his way; outsize budgetary control allows the governor to prize deal-making and leverage over ethics and transparency. —

Dan Zak, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2021 Pediatricians and educators are constantly telling parents to prize literary skills. —

Brian Platzer, The Atlantic, 23 Feb. 2021 Students continue to prize free speech rights on campus but increasingly feel those rights are being trampled upon, according to 2022 polling data from the Knight Foundation and Ipsos. —

Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2023 Manchester United might have had to pay £60 million to prize Casemiro away from Real Madrid, but the five-time Champions League winner has slotted in as perfectly as any manager could wish for. —

Liam Canning, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 But The Bear is also thrilling, funny, beautifully rendered, and sharp about how hierarchical workplaces can prize obeisance over potential and aggression over achievement. —

Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Prize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prize. Accessed 26 Mar. 2023.

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Kids Definition

prize

1 of 5 noun

ˈprīz

: something won or to be won in a contest

: something unusually valuable or eagerly sought

prize

2 of 5 adjective

: awarded a prize

a prize essay

: awarded as a prize

prize money

: outstanding of its kind

a prize fool

a prize student

prize

3 of 5 verb

prized; prizing

: to estimate the value of

: 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"