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

The prize website notes it has sold more copies than the last three Booker Prize winners combined before their wins.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” debuts next week, surely hoping to replicate or even outpace the Oscar-winning 2000 original, the fifth highest box-office earner among films that have won the top prize.

From Los Angeles Times

Asked how she would spend the £50,000 prize money, she said: "I need to buy myself a new bike, and it's going to be a good bike."

From BBC

It was the first Indian feature invited to compete at Cannes in nearly three decades and went on to win the festival’s Grand Prix prize when it premiered in May.

From Los Angeles Times

A journalist detained in Eritrean prison without trial for 23 years has won a Swedish human rights prize for his commitment to freedom of expression.

From BBC

Related Words

• outstanding
• topnotch

When To Use

What are other ways to say prize?

To prize something is to value or esteem it highly. How is prize different from esteem, value, and appreciate? Find out on Thesaurus.com.