# honored

/ˈɑnɝd/ (US) · /ˈɒnəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/honored
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to show respect

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to show great respect for someone, often with a public award or ceremony.

For teachers: to confer high respect or recognition upon an individual or entity, often through a formal ceremony or award.

- The city honored the brave firefighters with a special parade downtown.
- The university honored the retiring professor by establishing a scholarship in her name to recognize her decades of research.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that requires a direct object.

### 2. to keep a promise

verb · CEFR B2 · American English

to do what you promised or agreed to do.

For teachers: to fulfill an obligation, keep a promise, or accept a financial agreement as valid.

- The company honored the original price even though the sale had ended.
- The bank refused to process the check because the account holder had not honored the terms of the agreement.

Usage: Commonly used with objects like 'agreement', 'contract', 'promise', or 'check'.

### 3. feeling proud

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English

feeling very proud and happy because you have been given a special honor or chance.

For teachers: experiencing a sense of pride or privilege resulting from being shown respect or given a unique opportunity.

- I felt very honored to be invited to speak at the graduation ceremony.
- The young scientist felt deeply honored to collaborate with such a prestigious research team on the international project.

## Examples

- The city decided to honor the local hero with a statue.
- The bank will honor the check as long as there are enough funds in the account to cover the amount.
- By maintaining the original architectural features during the renovation, the developers sought to honor the historical significance of the building within the community.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.