ENGLISH
REFERENCE

prize

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈpɹaɪz// UK //pɹˈaɪz// prize
  1. 1 an award (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    something valuable given to the winner of a race, game, or competition.

    a reward or honour bestowed upon the winner of a contest or competition.

    Example

    She won first prize in the school science fair for her robot project.

    Example

    The prestigious literary prize includes a significant cash award and a guaranteed publishing contract for the author's next three novels.
  2. 2 something valuable (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a person or thing that is very valuable or important to someone.

    a highly valued possession or a person regarded as a valuable acquisition.

    Example

    The antique watch was his greatest prize, passed down through three generations.

    Example

    The rare manuscript was considered the ultimate prize by collectors of medieval history, sparking a fierce bidding war at the auction.
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  1. 3 captured ship or property (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Archaic Law

    a ship or property captured during a war, especially at sea.

    property, especially a vessel, captured at sea by a belligerent power under the laws of maritime warfare.

    Example

    The navy brought the captured enemy ship back to the harbour as a prize.

    Example

    Under the historical prize laws, the crew of the capturing vessel were entitled to a share of the value of any merchant ship seized during the conflict.
  2. 4 to value highly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to think that someone or something is very important or valuable.

    to value or esteem something extremely highly; to regard with great affection or respect.

    Example

    The local people prize their independence and work hard to protect it.

    Example

    In many traditional cultures, elders are deeply prized for their wisdom and their role in maintaining the community's oral history.
  3. 5 to force open (v.)
    C1 Advanced American English

    to use force or a tool to pull something open or away from something else.

    to move, raise, or open something by means of leverage. Often spelled 'prise' in British English.

    Example

    He used a screwdriver to prize the lid off the paint can.

    Example

    The investigators had to prize the locked cabinet open to retrieve the documents that had been hidden for decades.

    Usage

    Often used with 'open' or 'off'.
  4. 6 excellent or winning (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing something that has won an award or is of the best quality.

    having won a prize; of a quality that would merit an award or is considered first-rate.

    Example

    The farmer showed off his prize bull at the county fair.

    Example

    The chef only uses prize ingredients from local organic farms to ensure the highest standards for his signature dishes.
Etymology 1

From Middle English prise, from Old French prise (“a taking, capture, a seizure, a thing seized, a prize, booty, also hold, purchase”), past participle of prendre (“to take, to capture”), from Latin prēndere (“to take, seize”); see prehend. Compare prison, apprise, comprise, enterprise, purprise, reprisal, surprise, etc. Doublet of prise.

Etymology 2

From Middle English prysen, borrowed from Old French preisier (“to set a price or value on, esteem, value”), from pris (“price”), from Latin pretium (“price, value”), whence price; see also praise, a doublet. Compare appraise, apprize.

Etymology 3

Alternative forms.

Idioms3 entries

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