prize

Something given to someone for winning a competition or doing very well.

• She won a prize.
• First prize is a new bicycle.
• What prizes did the winners receive?

How to use it: a prize for something (She received a prize for her painting.)

Similar words: award, reward

Common phrases: win a prize, first prize, cash prize, prize money

Used before a noun to describe something so good that it could win a competition.

• The farmer showed us his prize bull.
• She grew a prize pumpkin in her garden.
• His prize roses attracted visitors from nearby villages.

Common phrases: prize horse, prize fish, prize pumpkin

Something taken from an enemy or another person by force or clever planning.

• The captured ship became their prize.
• The soldiers divided the prizes taken during the battle.
• The fleet returned with several valuable prizes.

Similar words: booty, spoils, capture

Common phrases: take a prize, a captured prize, war prize

To consider something very important or valuable.

• I prize your friendship.
• The artist’s early paintings are highly prized.
• They prize these old books for their beautiful illustrations.

How to use it: prize something for something (Collectors prize this pottery for its delicate patterns.); prize something above something (She prizes honesty above success.)

Similar words: value, treasure, cherish

Common phrases: prize something highly, prize something above something, prize someone’s friendship

To force something open or away from something else, often using a tool.

• She prized the lid open.
• They prized the metal cover off with a crowbar.
• Can you prize these two boards apart?

How to use it: prize something open (We used a screwdriver to prize the lid open.); prize something off something (He prized the board off the wall.)

Similar words: prise, pry, lever

Common phrases: prize something open, prize something off, prize something apart

Having won an award in a competition.

• The prize bull wore a blue ribbon.
• Her prize vegetables were displayed at the fair.
• Visitors admired the prize roses after the judges announced the winners.

Similar words: award-winning

Common phrases: prize vegetable, prize bull, prize exhibit

Extremely good or outstanding of its kind; sometimes used to emphasize how foolish someone is.

• What a prize fool I was!
• The collection includes a prize specimen of this rare butterfly.
• He made himself look like a prize idiot at the meeting.

Similar words: outstanding, exceptional

Common phrases: prize fool, prize idiot, prize specimen