HONOR

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does honor mean? 

• HONOR (noun)
  The noun HONOR has 4 senses:

1. a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

2. the state of being honored

3. the quality of being honorable and having a good name

4. a woman's virtue or chastity

  Familiarity information: HONOR used as a noun is uncommon.

• HONOR (verb)
  The verb HONOR has 3 senses:

1. bestow honor or rewards upon

2. show respect towards

3. accept as pay

  Familiarity information: HONOR used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HONOR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

accolade; award; honor; honour; laurels

Context example:

an award for bravery

Hypernyms ("honor" is a kind of...):

symbol (an arbitrary sign (written or printed) that has acquired a conventional significance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "honor"):

aliyah ((Judaism) the honor of being called up to the reading desk in the synagogue to read from the Torah)

Prix Goncourt (an award given annually for contributions to French literature)

Prix de Rome (an annual prize awarded by the French government in a competition of painters and artists and sculptors and musicians and architects; the winner in each category receives support for a period of study in Rome)

Academy Award; Oscar (an annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in motion picture production and performance)

Nobel prize (an annual award for outstanding contributions to chemistry or physics or physiology and medicine or literature or economics or peace)

Emmy (an annual award by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievements in television)

trophy (an award for success in war or hunting)

decoration; laurel wreath; medal; medallion; palm; ribbon (an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event)

honorable mention; mention (an official recognition of merit)

distinction (an honor awarded to someone in recognition of achievement or superiority)

citation; commendation (an official award (as for bravery or service) usually given as formal public statement)

cachet; seal; seal of approval (an indication of approved or superior status)

crown; pennant (the award given to the champion)

academic degree; degree (an award conferred by a college or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of study)

prize; trophy (something given as a token of victory)

letter; varsity letter (an award earned by participation in a school sport)

Derivation:

honor (bestow honor or rewards upon)

honorary (given as an honor without the normal duties)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The state of being honored

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

honor; honour; laurels

Hypernyms ("honor" is a kind of...):

standing (social or financial or professional status or reputation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "honor"):

glorification; glory (a state of high honor)

reputation; repute (the state of being held in high esteem and honor)

esteem; regard; respect (the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded))

celebrity; fame; renown (the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed)

Antonym:

dishonor (a state of shame or disgrace)

Derivation:

honor (accept as pay)

honor (bestow honor or rewards upon)

honorary (given as an honor without the normal duties)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The quality of being honorable and having a good name

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

honor; honour

Context example:

a man of honor

Hypernyms ("honor" is a kind of...):

righteousness (adhering to moral principles)

Antonym:

dishonor (lacking honor or integrity)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A woman's virtue or chastity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

honor; honour; pureness; purity

Hypernyms ("honor" is a kind of...):

chastity; sexual morality; virtue (morality with respect to sexual relations)

• HONOR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they honor    ... he / she / it honors   
Past simple: honored   
Past participle: honored   
-ing form: honoring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bestow honor or rewards upon

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

honor; honour; reward

Context example:

The scout was rewarded for courageous action

Hypernyms (to "honor" is one way to...):

recognise; recognize (show approval or appreciation of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "honor"):

drink; pledge; salute; toast; wassail (propose a toast to)

dignify; ennoble (confer dignity or honor upon)

decorate (award a mark of honor, such as a medal, to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Antonym:

dishonor (bring shame or dishonor upon)

Derivation:

honor (a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction)

honor (the state of being honored)

honoree (a recipient of honors in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Show respect towards

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

abide by; honor; honour; observe; respect

Context example:

honor your parents!

Hypernyms (to "honor" is one way to...):

accept (consider or hold as true)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "honor"):

celebrate; lionise; lionize (assign great social importance to)

tolerate (recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

honorable (deserving of esteem and respect)

honoring (conformity with law or custom or practice etc.)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Accept as pay

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

honor; honour

Context example:

we honor checks and drafts

Hypernyms (to "honor" is one way to...):

accept; have; take (receive willingly something given or offered)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

dishonor (refuse to accept)

Derivation:

honor (the state of being honored)

 Context examples 

By the honor of your mother, I pray you to stand by me and to make this knave loose me.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

There are many Americans there, and they give it in honor of the day.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

François’s whip snapped less frequently, and Perrault even honored Buck by lifting up his feet and carefully examining them.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

He received the "Hero of the Soviet Union", the Soviet Union's highest honor, for his work.

(Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov dies at age 85, Wikinews)

Mars, in a rare, once-in-two-year visit was touring your tenth house of honors, awards, and achievement and will continue to help your career until February 16.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Two weeks later he was overjoyed to see, in the latest number on the news-stand, his story printed in full, illustrated, and in the place of honor.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

No, madam, I have not had the honor.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But she had promised to hear him, and her curiosity no less than her honor was engaged.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

It is named in honor of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the founder of modern nursing.

(Large Asteroid to Safely Pass Earth on Sept. 1, NASA)

Keesh lived long ago on the rim of the polar sea, was head man of his village through many and prosperous years, and died full of honors with his name on the lips of men.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)