Word
tribute
Phoneticstrib·ute, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹɪbjut/
UK/tɹˈɪbjuːt/
Definitions
01an act of respect
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something you say, do, or give to show how much you respect or admire someone.
n. an acknowledgment of gratitude, respect, or admiration, often taking the form of a public statement or a commemorative gift.
“The concert was a moving tribute to the singer who died last year.”
“The retired professor received a heartfelt tribute from her former students, who credited her mentorship with their professional success.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
02historical payment
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. money or goods that one country or ruler was forced to pay to another for protection or peace.
n. a wealth payment made by one party to another as a sign of submission or price of protection, common in feudal or imperial contexts.
“In ancient times, smaller kingdoms paid tribute to the empire to avoid being attacked.”
“The historical records detail the exact amount of gold and grain paid in annual tribute by the vassal states to the central authority.”
03mining payment
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a share of the ore or money given to a miner as their pay.
n. a proportion of the mined ore, or its equivalent value, given to a miner as a form of piecework payment.
“The miners worked for a tribute, meaning they only got paid if they found good minerals.”
“Under the tribute system, the Cornish miners' earnings fluctuated wildly based on the quality of the lode they were currently excavating.”
04to pay as a gift
C2 · Proficiency Archaic
v. to give something as a sign of respect or as a required payment.
v. to pay or contribute something as a formal tribute. Transitive use is rare in modern prose.
“The local lords would tribute a portion of their harvest to the king.”
“The ancient texts describe how the conquered tribes were forced to tribute their finest horses to the victors every spring.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tribute” in context.
Verb
01. pay tribute to the victims
“Thousands of people gathered in the square to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. stand as a tribute to his legacy
“The newly built library will stand as a tribute to his legacy of promoting literacy.”
verb + prep + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
03. fitting tribute
“The scholarship fund is a fitting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to education.”
adj + noun
04. glowing tribute
“The retired professor received a glowing tribute from his former students during the gala.”
adj + noun
05. moving tribute
“The musician performed a moving tribute to her late mentor at the end of the concert.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. floral tribute
“Mourners left a beautiful floral tribute at the gates of the palace this morning.”
adj + noun
07. tribute to her hard work
“The team's success is a lasting tribute to her hard work and dedication over the years.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“It inspired the middle movements of Dvořák’s New World Symphony, his tribute to the country that had adopted him and his vision of what might inspire a new American music.” “Among the mourners was Tawee Piewphong, who paid tribute to his brother-in-law – the grandfather – as “a man of few words, but a very kind person”.” “Tributes have been paid to the co-founder of an auction business that grew into an "industry leading company".” “Each of them has a solo tribute, covering a pleasing variety of rock, soul and folk (Coffey’s plaintive ballad stands out).” Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English tribut (14th c.), from Middle French tribut, from Latin tributum (“tribute”, literally “a thing contributed or paid”), past participle of tribuere (“to assign, allot”), usually derived from tribus (“tribe”, which see).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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