prize

UK: /ˈpraɪz/ US: /praɪz/ ,(prīz)

Inflections of 'prize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

For senses to do with value or worth, "prize" is correct in US & UK English. For senses to do with leverage, the UK spelling is "prise" ("prize" is US only in this sense).

prizes

v 3rd person singular

prizing

v pres p

prized

v past

prized

v past p

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

prize¹ /praɪz/   n. 

1. a reward for victory, as in a contest or competition:
   [countable] She won a prize for her science exhibit.
   [uncountable* usually with some word indicating rank]
   She won first prize in the science exhibit.
2. [countable] something won in a lottery or the like.
3. anything that one tries to achieve or gain;
   something much valued:
   [countable] He thought of her as a prize to be won.

adj. [before a noun]

4. having won a prize:
   a prize play.
5. worthy of a prize:
   his prize collection of stamps.
6. given or awarded as a prize:
   prize money.
7. (used before a noun to express the opinion that something is a perfect or typical example of that noun):
   That was one of his prize blunders.

prize² /praɪz/   v. [~ + object] , prized, priz•ing. 

1. to value (something) highly.

See -pris-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prize¹  (prīz), n. 

1. a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition.
2. something that is won in a lottery or the like.
3. anything striven for, worth striving for, or much valued.
4. something seized or captured, esp. an enemy's ship and cargo captured at sea in wartime.
5. the act of taking or capturing, esp. a ship at sea.
6. [Archaic.] a contest or match.

adj. 

7. having won a prize:
   a prize bull; a prize play.
8. worthy of a prize.
9. given or awarded as a prize.

• Latin pre(hē)nsa, noun, nominal use of feminine past participle of pre(he)ndere to take; in senses referring to something won, spelling, spelled variant of price (Middle English pris(e)) since the late 16th century
• Middle French
• in senses referring to something seized, continuing Middle English prise something captured, a seizing 1250–1300

Synonyms

• 1. premium. See reward. 

prize²  (prīz), v.t., prized, priz•ing. 

1. to value or esteem highly.
2. to estimate the worth or value of.

• Middle French prisier, variant of preisier to praise
• Middle English prisen 1325–75

Synonyms

• 1. See appreciate. 

prize³  (prīz), v., prized, priz•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. pry².

n. 

2. leverage.
3. a lever.

Also, prise. 

• Latin pre(hē)nsa. See prize¹
• Middle French: a hold, grasp
• Middle English prise 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prize / praɪz/ noun

1. a reward or honour for victory or for having won a contest, competition, etc
2. (as modifier): prize jockey, prize essay
3. something given to the winner of any game of chance, lottery, etc
4. something striven for
5. any valuable property captured in time of war, esp a vessel

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French prise a capture, from Latin prehendere to seize; influenced also by Middle English prise reward; see price

prize / praɪz/ verb

1. (transitive) to esteem greatly; value highly

Etymology: 15th Century prise, from Old French preisier to praise

prize / praɪz/ verb , noun

1. a variant spelling of prise

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prise  (prīz), v.t., prised, pris•ing, n. 

1. prize³.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

prise, prize / praɪz/ verb (transitive)

1. to force open by levering
2. to extract or obtain with difficulty: they had to prise the news out of him

Etymology: 17th Century: from Old French prise a taking, from prendre to take, from Latin prehendere; see prize¹