prize
/praɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /praɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprīz/ (ame, mw)
prize — noun
1. Money, a trophy, or some other item of worth that is awarded to the winner of a
Money, a trophy, or some other item of worth that is awarded to the winner of a contest or to somebody who has done outstanding work.
Anjali won first prize in the school science fair for her solar-powered charger.
win first prize — collocation
The prize for the best short story this year is a publishing contract with a major house.
prize for + [activity/achievement] — grammar pattern
Noa received a cash prize of five hundred dollars for winning the regional chess tournament.
Hugo donated his prize money to a charity that supports education for girls.
All runners in the fun run received a small prize and a certificate of completion.
- award
More formal; can be given for achievement outside competitions, e.g. for service or bravery
- reward
Given in return for effort, good behaviour, or a specific action, not necessarily in a competition
- trophy
A physical object such as a cup or plaque that serves as a prize
- jackpot
The largest prize in a game of chance or lottery, often a sum of money
常見錯誤
2. Something extremely desirable and valuable that can only be gained or reached th
Something extremely desirable and valuable that can only be gained or reached through great effort, patience, or sacrifice.
A seat in the national orchestra was a prize the young pianist had dreamed of for years.
prize as a metaphor for a hard-won goal
A place on the Olympic team is a prize that only the most dedicated athletes ever achieve.
Rania described her medical degree as a prize worth every sleepless night and missed holiday.
Peace in the disputed region remains an elusive prize that negotiators have pursued for decades.
Landing that major client was a prize that took the small startup two years to win.
用法筆記
Often used in literary, formal, or metaphorical contexts to describe something desirable that is reached through difficulty. Common in phrases about careers, peace, freedom, and personal goals.
prize — verb
1. To consider someone or something to be extremely valuable or important, and to t
To consider someone or something to be extremely valuable or important, and to treat them with special care and affection, often because of a long personal connection.
Grandma prized the old wooden jewellery box her mother had given her on her wedding day.
active: prize + object for sentimental reasons
Stephanie's handmade birthday card was prized by her father more than any store-bought gift.
passive: be prized by [someone]
The local museum prizes its collection of Ming dynasty vases above all other exhibits.
Tuan prizes the quiet time he spends reading with his daughter each evening after work.
In many rural communities, the skill of growing food without chemicals is still prized today.
- cherish
Warmer and more emotional; often used for relationships and memories
- treasure
Similar intensity but more common in everyday use; works for both objects and relationships
- value
Broader and less emotionally intense; can be used for practical as well as sentimental worth
- esteem
More formal; usually applies to people, reputation, or qualities rather than objects
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive (be prized by / be prized among). The subject of an active sentence is typically a person, family, community, or institution that has a deep emotional, cultural, or historical attachment to the object. Not used for temporary or casual appreciation.
常見錯誤
2. To move, raise, or separate a physical object by pushing a rigid tool such as a
To move, raise, or separate a physical object by pushing a rigid tool such as a screwdriver into a gap and applying leverage.
Yan prized the rusty lid off the paint tin using a flat-headed screwdriver.
prize + object + off — separating two parts
The repairman prized the wooden window frame open with a crowbar and climbed inside.
Ife carefully prized the oyster shells apart to see if there was a pearl inside.
Daichi had to prize the frozen metal bolt loose using a wrench and some oil.
The thieves prized the safe door open while the security guard was making his rounds.
- pry
More common in American English; exactly the same meaning
- lever
More formal; emphasises using leverage rather than simple force
- force open
Less specific about the tool used; a general description
用法筆記
The object of the verb is always a physical object that must be forced apart or lifted. Requires an adverb or prepositional phrase (off, open, apart, loose) to complete the meaning. In British English, the spelling 'prise' is also very common.
常見錯誤
prize — adjective
1. (Of an animal, plant, or food product) Of a quality high enough to have won a co
(Of an animal, plant, or food product) Of a quality high enough to have won a competition or to be highly likely to win one, typically at a county fair, show, or exhibition.
The county fair awarded a blue ribbon to Tuan's prize-winning pig.
prize-winning + [animal] — compound adjective
Paloma entered her prize roses in the garden competition and won first place.
The old farmer was extremely proud of his prize bull, which had won three regional championships.
Rania's prize pumpkin weighed over fifty kilograms and drew a crowd at the harvest festival.
Visitors to the flower show admired the prize orchids arranged in the main hall.
- award-winning
More general; can be used for any noun, not limited to animals and plants
- champion
Used before nouns, especially for animals; suggests having won a title
- show-quality
Specifically about the standard required for entering competitions
用法筆記
Almost always used directly before a noun (attributive position). Most commonly appears with farm animals (prize pig, prize bull, prize sheep), garden plants (prize roses, prize orchids), and food products (prize pumpkin, prize tomatoes). The compound 'prize-winning' can be used as an adjective before any noun.
2. Used before a noun to describe a person or thing that is a particularly striking
Used before a noun to describe a person or thing that is a particularly striking example of a certain quality or type, often but not always a negative one.
That waiter gave a prize example of bad service — he ignored us for twenty minutes.
prize example of [something] — collocation, often negative
Hugo's brother is a prize idiot who parked his car across two spaces at the supermarket.
prize + [insult noun] — informal fixed pattern
The new concert hall is a prize specimen of modern architecture from the early 1990s.
Minho described the rumour as a prize piece of nonsense that no one believed.
That match was a prize example of how not to play team defence in basketball.
用法筆記
The negative use (prize idiot, prize fool, prize example of bad…) is informal and often humorous or sarcastic. The neutral or positive use (prize specimen, prize example of modern design) is less common but acceptable. Always appears before a noun.