DictionaryAI

merit

ME-rit/ˈmɛɹɪt/

Pluralmerits

Verbmerits, meriting, merited

9 meanings of merit

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable or uncountable
    The good qualities in something that make it worth praising or rewarding.

    Like the good points of a tool that make it worth keeping.

    The plan has real merit, so the team agreed to try it.

    There is little merit in arguing over such small things.

    Similarvalue, worth, excellence

    Oppositedemerit

    Note
  2. 2
    verbtransitive
    To deserve something because of what you have done.

    Like earning a sticker because you did a good job.

    Her honesty merits real praise.

    Hard workers merit a fair reward.

    Similardeserve, warrant, earn, justify

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A fair reason that gives someone a right to be praised or rewarded.

    She listed every merit that supported her case for a raise.

    His many merits won him the promotion.

    Similarstrength, qualification, credential, virtue

    Oppositedemerit, weakness, flaw

    Note
  4. 4
    nouncountable
    A mark or award given to recognize good work.

    Like a gold star you get for doing well.

    The student earned a merit for his science project.

    She collected several merits during the term.

    Similarcredit, star, commendation

    Oppositedemerit

    Note
  5. 5
    noununcountable
    Whether a legal case is really right or wrong, not its technical rules, or how good or bad anything is.

    The judge focused on the merits of the case, not on paperwork errors.

    Her lawyer said the claim had no merit, even though every form was filled out correctly.

    Similarsubstance, validity, worth

    Note
  6. 6
    verbintransitive
    To be good enough to deserve something.

    Workers here are paid as they merit.

    She was promoted just as she merited.

    Similardeserve

    Note
  7. 7
    noununcountable
    The good gained from a person's kind deeds, believed to shape their future lives.

    Like saving up good points by being kind.

    Buddhists earn merit by giving food to monks.

    She believed her good deeds built up merit for the next life.

    Oppositedemerit

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 8
    nounobsoletecountable
    The state of deserving what you get, whether a reward or a punishment.
    Be it known, that we the greateſt are mis-thoght / For things that others do : and when we fall, / We anſwer others merits, in our name / Are therefore to be pittied.
    c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”Here, merits means what others deserve, here their punishment.
    Note
  2. 9
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To give someone a reward.

    The lord merited his soldiers with fresh horses.

    Good rulers merit their people with peace and safety.

    Note

Practice

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

Origin

The noun came through Old French from Latin "meritum," meaning something you deserve or a reward. The verb also came from French "meriter," meaning to deserve.