Word
prestigious
Phoneticspres·ti·gious, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈstidʒəs/
UK/pɹɛstˈɪdʒəs/
Definition
adj. respected and admired because of high quality, success, or influence. You use this to describe things like top universities, famous awards, or important jobs.
adj. possessing high status or stature; inspiring respect and admiration through perceived excellence or influence. Often used to describe institutions, awards, or professional positions.
Examples
“She won a prestigious award for her scientific research.”
“Graduating from such a prestigious university often opens doors to high-level careers in law and international business.”
“The fellowship remains one of the most prestigious honors in the humanities, attracting thousands of applications from the world's leading scholars every year.”
Examples
simple
“She won a prestigious award for her scientific research.”
contextual
“Graduating from such a prestigious university often opens doors to high-level careers in law and international business.”
complex
“The fellowship remains one of the most prestigious honors in the humanities, attracting thousands of applications from the world's leading scholars every year.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prestigious” in context.
Verb
01. attend a prestigious event
“The diplomat was invited to attend a prestigious event at the embassy to celebrate the new treaty.”
verb + adj + noun
02. become prestigious
“Over the decades, the local film festival has grown to become prestigious on the international circuit.”
verb + adj
03. land a prestigious job
“After three rounds of interviews, he finally managed to land a prestigious job at a top-tier law firm.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. highly prestigious award
“Winning the Nobel Prize is considered the most highly prestigious award in the scientific community.”
adv + adj + noun
05. prestigious university
“She worked tirelessly to secure a place at a prestigious university in the Ivy League.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. prestigious fellowship
“The researcher was granted a prestigious fellowship to conduct her studies in Paris.”
adj + noun
Usage
Typically precedes the noun it modifies; frequently collocated with 'award', 'university', 'position', or 'firm'.
Real-World Examples
“Their findings are revealed in a recent paper published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal Letters.” “The news the company that owns Raleigh has begun insolvency proceedings means one of Nottingham's most prestigious manufacturing names may have reached the end of its journey.” Etymology
Attested since the 1540s; Latin praestigiosus (“full of tricks”), praestigiae (“juggler's tricks”), possibly an alteration of praestringō (“to blindfold, to dazzle”), from prae- (“before”) with stringō (“to bind or tie”); equivalent to prestige + -ious. Unstressed /ɛ/ is retained by analogy with prestige.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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