honor
Noun pluralhonors (some meanings)
UK spellinghonour
Formshonors, honoring, honored
Pluralhonors (some meanings)
- 1To show respect for someone or something, especially publicly or by giving an award.
Like cheering for someone to show how much you value them.
We honor our teachers by working hard.
Families honor their loved ones on special days.
UsageOften be honored for something.
Similarcelebrate, commemorate, respect, recognize, revere
Oppositedishonor, disgrace, insult
Note
- 2Great respect shown to someone people admire or look up to.
Like clapping loudly to show how much you admire someone.
The crowd rose in honor of the returning champion.
The town held a big dinner in honor of its oldest citizen.
UsageSay in honor of someone.
Similartribute, homage, respect, recognition, reverence
Oppositedishonor, disrespect, contempt, scorn
Note
- 3A special chance that makes you feel proud and respected.
Like being picked first for something everyone wants to do.
It was an honor to meet the famous author.
Speaking at the wedding was a great honor for him.
UsageSay it's an honor to meet you.
Similarprivilege, pleasure, distinction, compliment
Oppositedisgrace, insult, embarrassment, indignity
Note
- 4An award or prize given to show praise and respect.
Like a trophy you keep to remember something great you did.
She received a special honor for her bravery.
The medal was the highest honor in the school.
UsageSay someone received an honor, or many honors.
Similaraward, accolade, distinction, decoration, prize
Note
- 5Strong moral character that makes others trust and respect you.
Like an inner voice that always tells you to do the right thing.
A person of honor always tells the truth.
A man of honor keeps his promises, even when it is hard.
UsageSay a person of honor.
Similarintegrity, principle, decency, dignity, virtue
Oppositedishonor, disgrace, shame, dishonesty
Note
- 6To do what a promise, an agreement, or a request asks you to do.
Like always doing what you said you would do.
They honor every promise they make to customers.
We must honor the agreement we signed last year.
UsageSay honor a promise or honor a deal.
Similarkeep, fulfill, observe, respect, uphold
Oppositebreak, violate, breach, disregard
Note
- 7A college degree or course above the ordinary level, or a special mark for doing very well in your studies.
She joined the honors program to study at a higher level.
He graduated with honors in mathematics.
UsageSay graduate with honors.
Similardistinction
Note
- 8
Less common meanings
- 9A polite title for a judge, or sometimes a mayor, as in Your Honor or Her Honor.
"Your Honor, my client did not know the car was stolen," the lawyer said.
Everyone stood up when His Honor walked into the courtroom.
UsageSay Your Honor to a judge.
- 10To pay the money owed on a check or similar paper.
Like a store accepting a gift card and giving you what it is worth.
The bank agreed to honor the check right away.
Will the bank honor a check written two years ago?
UsageYou can report a refusal to pay by saying the bank did not honor my check.
Similaraccept, cash, pay, clear, redeem
Oppositedishonor, bounce, refuse, reject
Note
- 11The right to go first, for example to tee off first in golf.
As the youngest player, Mia got the honors and rolled the dice first.
You're our guest, so you get the honors. Please go first.
UsageSay you have the honors to let someone go first.
Note
- 12Formal actions done to show respect for someone, especially at a funeral, like firing guns or handing over a flag.
The old soldier was buried with full military honors.
The firefighter who died in the blaze was buried with full honors, and his helmet was given to his wife.
- 13Used to swear that what you are saying is really true.
“Not a ha’porth. Different gangs and different ships. He was tried again for prison breaking, and got made a Lifer.” “And was that—Honour!—the only time you worked out, in this part of the country?” “The only time.”
1861, Charles Dickens, Great ExpectationsHere, Honour is said to promise that one is telling the truth. - 14In card games like bridge, a high card such as an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten.
- 15In mahjong, a special tile showing a dragon or a wind.
- 16In heraldry, a point near the top middle of a shield design.
- 17Long ago, a large area of land held from the king, with smaller lands under it.
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Practice
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Origin
This word came into English through Old French from Latin "honor."
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Honor entered English through Old French from Latin honor. en.wiktionary.org