award 1 of 2

noun

Definition of awardnext
1
as in prize
something given in recognition of achievement Faye received the highest award in the 16 and under category for her poem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in decision
a position arrived at after consideration in their award the board of arbitrators declared that both writers deserved screen credit for their contributions to the final screenplay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

award

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈwȯrd How to pronounce award (audio)
1
as in to reward
to give something as a token of gratitude or admiration for a service or achievement we will award the top three contestants in the essay competition

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to grant
to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly custody of the boy was awarded to the grandparents

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb award contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of award are accord, concede, grant, and vouchsafe. While all these words mean "to give as a favor or a right," award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

When is accord a more appropriate choice than award?

Although the words accord and award have much in common, accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

When can concede be used instead of award?

While in some cases nearly identical to award, concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

In what contexts can grant take the place of award?

The meanings of grant and award largely overlap; however, grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

Where would vouchsafe be a reasonable alternative to award?

The words vouchsafe and award can be used in similar contexts, but vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of award
Noun
His photos have won numerous state and national awards including Pictures of the Year International and NPPA Best of Photojournalism. —Staff Photographer, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026 The lone awards ceremony of the week was the Directors Guild Awards, where prizes were handed out in the categories of Feature Film, Documentary Film, and First-Time Feature Film. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
The 500 companies with the highest scores were awarded as the Asia-Pacific's Best Companies of 2026 by TIME and Statista. —Time Staff, Time, 11 Feb. 2026 Fans can see the trophy, which will be awarded in July to the winner of the 2026 World Cup in East Rutherford, New Jersey. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for award
Recent Examples of Synonyms for award
  1. prize
  2. decision
  3. reward
  4. grant
  5. accolade
  6. verdict
  7. honor
  8. opinion
Noun
  • After all, writer-director Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, known for Circus of Life and Joyland, both of which were Pakistan’s official Oscar submissions, with the latter winning the jury prize at Cannes, is bringing his new movie, Lali, to the German capital.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
    — Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of prize
Noun
  • Concerned about safety risks and environmental damage, the Blue Mountains City Council temporarily closed access to the rock last month while officials work on a long-term plan — a decision that has prompted debate among residents, conservationists and local businesses that depend on tourism.
    — Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • In a 2014 editorial, the Times argued the federal ban on the drug should be repealed, and the decision should be left up to the individual states.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of decision
Verb
  • Unlike other tech companies such as Microsoft whose AI spending has partly held back its stock, investors for now have rewarded Meta’s big AI bets as the company’s revenue increased 24% year over year thanks in part to strong advertising results fueled by AI.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Fulfillment, including renewal notices, tags, and reward cards, is managed by Pet Parent in a way that can help organizations provide a polished experience without maintaining separate logistics.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of reward
Verb
  • DeepSeek, Alibaba, and other Chinese tech giants ByteDance and Tencent have been granted conditional approvals by Beijing to purchase a certain amount of H200s, Reuters reported last month, citing anonymous sources.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The blow was particularly devastating because the show has no big investors or grant financing, Smook said.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of grant
Noun
  • The win marks the latest accolade for the song, which has already earned a Grammy, Golden Globe, and Critics Choice Award, in addition to an Academy Award nomination.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 7 Feb. 2026
  • African films depicting same-sex relationships have historically been censored on the continent, including those that garnered international accolades.
    — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of accolade
Noun
  • As the verdict was announced, his followers unleashed a wave of fury across Punjab and Haryana.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Their convictions come more than two years after another judge issued a mixed verdict involving other members of Misick’s Progressive National Party government who were accused of similar charges in the archipelago, located about 600 miles south of Florida.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of verdict
Verb
  • Tickets for the original Orlando date will be honored for the new date.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Valentine's Day pagan connections Lupercalia was a debaucherous festival that celebrated the coming of spring that included animal sacrifices and drunken revelry to honor Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
    — Kate Perez, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of honor
Noun
  • Public opinion surveys conducted for the report show much of the world is already fearful that is happening.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Activists are using new tactics, such as micro protests, to increase participation and shift public opinion.
    — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of opinion

Browse Nearby Words

awaking
award
awarded
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Award.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/award. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on award

Nglish: Translation of award for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about award

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