DictionaryAI

award

uh-WORD/əˈwɔɹd/UKuh-WAWD/əˈwɔːd/

Pluralawards

Verbawards, awarding, awarded

8 meanings of award

Practice

  1. 1
    prizenouncountable
    A prize, medal, or trophy given to someone for doing something well.

    Like a gold star you get at school for doing great work.

    She won an award for the best science project in her class.

    The film received an award at the international festival.

    UsageYou win an award for something. A reward is what you get for helping or being good.

    Similarprize, honor, accolade

  2. 2
    present (prize)verbtransitive
    To give someone a prize or honor because they did something well.

    Like handing out a shiny cup to the team that won.

    The academy will award the top prize to this year's best newcomer.

    They award a small trophy to each finalist.

    UsageSay award her a prize or award a prize to her. Also: she was awarded a prize.

  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    For a court, jury, or arbitrator to grant someone money, property, or rights after deciding they should receive them.

    Like a teacher deciding who keeps a toy after two kids argue over it.

    The court will award damages to the injured worker.

    The judge awarded full custody to the mother.

    UsageOften award damages to someone: a court says they get money.

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    Money given to a person or team to pay for a research project.

    Like winning money in a contest that you can only spend on your project.

    The research award will pay for two years of work on the new vaccine.

    The research team applied for a large award.

    UsageOften grant award. People apply for an award to pay for their work.

    Similargrant

    Note
  5. 5
    verbtransitive
    To officially give someone something, like a contract, points or a penalty, after a decision is made.

    The city will award the building contract to a local company next month.

    The referee awarded our team a penalty after the foul.

    Similargrant, give, allot, assign

    Oppositewithhold

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    nouncountable
    A decision by a court or people chosen to settle a disagreement, often about money, or the document recording it.

    Both sides agreed to accept the award without going to court.

    The arbitrator's award favored the smaller company.

    Note
  2. 7
    give marksverbBritishtransitive
    To give marks for a correct answer in a test.

    Like ticking a box and adding a point each time an answer is right.

    Examiners award one mark for each correct answer.

    The teacher awarded full marks for her essay.

    UsageSay award marks for a right answer.

    Similargive

    Oppositededuct

    Note
  3. 8
    wage rulesnounAustraliaNew Zealandcountable
    A set of legal rules about the lowest pay and working conditions for a job or industry.

    Like a rulebook that lists the lowest pay and basic conditions for a kind of job.

    The new award raised the minimum pay for retail workers.

    Their hours and breaks are set by the award.

    UsageWorkers are covered by an award and get award wages.

    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of award apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from an old French word used in England, awarder, based on Latin words meaning 'out' and 'to watch or guard'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts