honour

UK: /ˈɒnə/ US: (on′ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hon•our  (on′ər), n., v.t., adj. [Chiefly Brit.]

1. British Terms, Pronouns honor.

Usage

See -or ¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

honour, honor / ˈɒnə/ noun

1. personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles
2. fame or glory
3. (often plural) great respect, regard, esteem, etc, or an outward sign of this
4. (often plural) high or noble rank
5. a privilege or pleasure: it is an honour to serve you
6. a woman's virtue or chastity
7. any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps
8. any of the top four cards
9. the right to tee off first
10. do the honours ⇒ to serve as host or hostess
11. to perform a social act, such as carving meat, proposing a toast, etc
12. in honour bound ⇒ under a moral obligation
13. in honour of ⇒ out of respect for
14. on one's honour, upon one's honour ⇒ on the pledge of one's word or good name

verb (transitive)

1. to hold in respect or esteem
2. to show courteous behaviour towards
3. to worship
4. to confer a distinction upon
5. to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)
6. to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)
7. to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hon•or /ˈɑnɚ/   n. 

1. honesty, fairness, high standards or integrity in one's beliefs and actions:
   [uncountable] a code of honor.
2. a source of credit or distinction:
   [countable* usually singular] to be an honor to one's country.
3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank:
   [uncountable] The president dedicated a memorial in honor of the dead.
4. fame;
   glory:
   [uncountable] to earn a position of honor.
5. the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, etc.:
   [countable* usually singular] the honor of serving on a panel.
6. Usually, honors. [plural] evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank or distinction:
   a funeral with full military honors.
7. a title of respect for judges and mayors:
   [proper noun* His/Her/Your + ~] "Your Honor, I object,'' the lawyer protested to the judge.
8. Education honors, [plural]
   • special rank, award, or recognition given by a school to an outstanding student:
     graduated with honors.
   • Education a class or course for advanced students, usually involving advanced or independent work:
     an honors course in linguistics.

v. [~ + object]

9. to hold in honor or high respect;
   revere:
   to honor one's ancestors.
10. to treat with honor;
    give honor or distinction to:
    Will you honor us with your presence tonight?
11. to keep to the terms of:
    to honor a treaty.
12. Business to accept or pay (a credit card, check, etc.):
    Most major credit cards are honored at this restaurant.

adj. [before a noun]

13. of, relating to, or noting honor:
    an honor guard of three soldiers carrying flags in the parade.

Idioms

14. Idioms do honor to, [ ~ + obj]
    • to bring respect to:
      You do honor to our college.
    • to be a credit to:
      He did honor to his country.
15. Idioms do the honors, to act as host, as in serving at the dinner table:
    Please do the honors and carve the roast.
16. Idioms on or upon one's honor, bound by one's word or good name:
    You are on your honor not to cheat.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] honour.  hon•or•ee, n. [countable] , pl. -ees. 
hon•or•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hon•or  (on′ər), n. 

1. honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions:
   a man of honor.
2. a source of credit or distinction:
   to be an honor to one's family.
3. high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank:
   to be held in honor.
4. such respect manifested:
   a memorial in honor of the dead.
5. high public esteem;
   fame;
   glory:
   He has earned his position of honor.
6. the privilege of being associated with or receiving a favor from a respected person, group, organization, etc.:
   to have the honor of serving on a prize jury; I have the honor of introducing this evening's speaker.
7. Usually, honors. evidence, as a special ceremony, decoration, scroll, or title, of high rank, dignity, or distinction:
   political honors; military honors.
8. (cap.) a deferential title of respect, esp. for judges and mayors (prec. by His, Her, Your, etc.).
9. Education honors:
   • special rank or distinction conferred by a university, college, or school upon a student for eminence in scholarship or success in some particular subject.
   • Education an advanced course of study for superior students. Cf. honors course.
10. chastity or purity in a woman.
11. Games Also called honor card. [Cards.]
    • [Bridge.] any of the five highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten in the trump suit, or any of the four aces in a no-trump contract. Cf. honor trick.
    • [Whist.] any of the four highest trump cards, as an ace, king, queen, or jack in the trump suit.
12. Sport [Golf.] the privilege of teeing off before the other player or side, given after the first hole to the player or side that won the previous hole.
13. Idioms be on or upon one's honor, to accept and acknowledge personal responsibility for one's actions:
    West Point cadets are on their honor not to cheat on an exam.
14. Idioms do honor to:
    • to show respect to.
    • to be a credit to:
      Such good students would do honor to any teacher.
15. Idioms do the honors, to serve or preside as host, as in introducing people, or carving or serving at table:
    Father did the honors at the family Thanksgiving dinner.

v.t. 

16. to hold in honor or high respect;
    revere:
    to honor one's parents.
17. to treat with honor.
18. to confer honor or distinction upon:
    The university honored him with its leadership award.
19. to worship (the Supreme Being).
20. to show a courteous regard for:
    to honor an invitation.
21. Business [Com.] to accept or pay (a draft, check, etc.):
    All credit cards are honored here.
22. to accept as valid and conform to the request or demands of (an official document).
23. Music and Dance (in square dancing) to meet or salute with a bow.

adj. 

24. of, pertaining to, or noting honor.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] honour. 

• Latin honōrāre, derivative of honor
• Anglo-French (h)on(o)urer
• Latin honōr- (stem of honor, earlier honōs); (verb, verbal) Middle English
• Anglo-French (Old French (h)onor, onur)
• (noun, nominal) Middle English (h)on(o)ur 1150–1200

hon′or•er, n. 
hon′or•less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. probity, uprightness.
  Honor, honesty, integrity, sincerity refer to the highest moral principles and the absence of deceit or fraud.
  Honor denotes a fine sense of, and a strict conformity to, what is considered morally right or due:
  a high sense of honor; on one's honor.
  Honesty denotes the presence of probity and particularly the absence of deceit or fraud, esp. in business dealings:
  uncompromising honesty and trustworthiness.
  Integrity indicates a soundness of moral principle that no power or influence can impair:
  a man of unquestioned integrity and dependability.
  Sincerity implies absence of dissimulation or deceit, and a strong adherence to truth:
  His sincerity was evident in every word.
• 3. deference, homage; reverence, veneration.
  Honor, consideration, distinction refer to the regard in which one is held by others.
  Honor suggests a combination of liking and respect:
  His colleagues held him in great honor.
  Consideration suggests honor because of proved worth:
  a man worthy of the highest consideration.
  Distinction suggests particular honor because of qualities or accomplishments:
  She achieved distinction as a violinist at an early age.
• 5. distinction.
• 16. esteem, venerate.

Antonyms

• 1. dishonor, dishonesty.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Honour / ˈɒnə/ noun

1. preceded by Your, His, or Her: a title used to or of certain judges