prize
n. countablen. something valuable that you win in a competition or for doing great work. It can be money, a trophy, or a special gift.
n. a reward or distinction awarded to the winner of a competition or in recognition of an outstanding achievement.
She won first prize in the photography contest.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world.
While the monetary prize is significant, most recipients value the professional recognition and the doors it opens within their respective fields far more than the cash.
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.
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.
Alternative forms.
- 01
booby prize
A prize or status, often unwelcome, awarded as a joke or disincentive to the loser of a contest or for poor performance.
- 02
eyes on the prize
Concentration on one's goal; mindfulness of the desired outcome.
- 03
no prize for guessing
Used to form expressions emphasizing the unsurprising nature of what follows