honors

1. 1
   more than onenoun

   Plural of honor.

   The veteran was buried with full military honors.

   Graduates collected their honors in a formal ceremony.

   Note

   Not every meaning of honor can take an s. As respect or as integrity, honor is uncountable and rarely pluralizes. The plural belongs to tokens of distinction: prizes, awards, a burial with full military honors. Two meanings live almost entirely in the plural: the privilege of going first, and the right to play one's ball before an opponent.

2. 2
   advanced classesadjective

   Designating advanced academic courses or programs for students performing at a high level.

   Only students with strong grades may take the honors track in math.

   Her honors seminar required a research paper twice the usual length.

   Similaradvanced, accelerated

   Oppositeregular, standard

   Note

   School English turns the plural noun into a label for advanced classes, and the final s stays: honors math, an honors student, an honors seminar. The label usually comes before the noun, though this class is honors is heard too. It cannot be graded: a course is honors or it is not, and nothing is more honors than another.

3. 3
   present formverb

   Third-person singular simple present of honor.

   He always honors his promises, no matter the cost.

   Each year the city honors its founders with a parade.

   Note

   It shares its spelling with the plural noun, but this verb form covers four distinct actions. A person honors a teacher by respecting them, and a government honors a treaty by keeping it. A city honors its founders by conferring a distinction, and a bank honors a check by paying it. Each use needs a direct object, so the verb never stands alone.

   The bank honors the check only if the account has funds.

   The truce is fragile, but each side still honors its terms.

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