prize

¹

[ prahyz ]

noun

1. a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition.

   Synonyms: premium

2. something that is won in a lottery or the like.
3. anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued.
4. something seized or captured, especially an enemy's ship and cargo captured at sea in wartime.
5. the act of taking or capturing, especially a ship at sea.
6. Archaic. a contest or match.

adjective

1. having won a prize:

   a prize bull; a prize play.

2. worthy of a prize.
3. given or awarded as a prize.
4. being an excellent example of something, especially something undesirable:

   He makes his daughter's husband feel like a prize idiot whenever they get together.

prize

²

[ prahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, prized, priz·ing.

1. to value or esteem highly.
2. to estimate the worth or value of.

prize

³

or prise

[ prahyz ]

noun

, prized, priz·ing.

1. pry ².

prize

¹

/ praɪz /

verb

1. a variant spelling of prise

prize

²

/ praɪz /

verb

1. tr to esteem greatly; value highly

prize

³

/ praɪz /

noun

1. 1. a reward or honour for victory or for having won a contest, competition, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      prize jockey

      prize essay

2. something given to the winner of any game of chance, lottery, etc
3. something striven for
4. any valuable property captured in time of war, esp a vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of prize¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; in senses referring to something seized, continuing Middle English prise “something captured, a seizing, requisition,” from Old French prise “capture (of a ship), booty,” from Vulgar Latin prēsa, prēnsa (unrecorded), from Latin pre(hē)nsa, noun use of feminine past participle of pre(he)ndere “to take, grasp, seize”; in senses referring to something won, spelling variant since the late 16th century of Middle English pris(e) price

Origin of prize²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English prisen “to set a price, appraise,” from Middle French prisier, priser, variants of Old French preisier “to value, appraise”; praise

Origin of prize³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun prise, from Middle French prise “a hold, grasp,” from Latin pre(hē)nsa; prize ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of prize¹

C15 prise, from Old French preisier to praise

Origin of prize²

C14: from Old French prise a capture, from Latin prehendere to seize; influenced also by Middle English prise reward; see price

Synonym Study

See reward.

Example Sentences

Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

From Los Angeles Times

The dinosaur’s jaws close around its prize.

From Los Angeles Times

Some teams 'yet to pay players World Cup prize money'

From BBC

On the other, no one inside the Lakers locker room would dare compare the two, the first definitely still a novelty the Lakers would’ve happily traded, prize money and all, for even a long shot chance to win the big title in the spring.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think that’s the one thing we kind of, last year, we were very motivated. We have the big prize.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outstanding
• topnotch