Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense honours, present participle honouring, past tense, past participle honouredregional note: in AM, use honor
1. uncountable noun
Honour means doing what you believe to be right and being confident that you have done what is right.
The officers died faithful to Poland and to the honour of a soldier.
I do not believe I can any longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
Synonyms: integrity, principles, morality, honesty More Synonyms of honour
2. countable noun
An honour is a special award that is given to someone, usually because they have done something good or becausethey are greatly respected.
Most of the high honours usually go to long-serving MPs loyal to the government.
He was showered with honours–among them an Oscar.
Synonyms: title, award, distinction, accolade More Synonyms of honour
3. verb [usually passive]
If someone is honoured, they are given public praise or an award for something they have done.
The director was honoured with a Bafta Fellowship. [beVERB-ed]
Mr Reddy has been honoured by the Pope by being made a knight of St Gregory. [beVERB-ed]
4. singular noun
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour, you mean you think it is something special and desirable.
Five other cities had been competing for the honour of staging the Games. [+ of]
Tchaikovsky was given a state funeral–the first commoner to be granted this honour.
Michael said: 'It's an honour to finally work with her.'.
Perhaps as it is so close to noon, you would do me the honour of having lunch withme.
Synonyms: privilege, credit, favour, pleasure More Synonyms of honour
5. passive verb
If you say that you wouldbe honouredto do something, you are saying very politely and formally that you would be pleased to do it. If you say that you are honouredby something, you are saying that you are grateful for it and pleased about it.
[politeness]
I would be honoured to play for a club like Everton. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
It's a very flattering offer, and I'm honoured by your confidence in me. [beVERB-ed]
6. verb
To honour someone means to treat them or regard them with special attention and respect.
Her Majesty later honoured them with her presence at lunch. [VERB noun + with]
Those right-wing people who most honour their monarch see no reason for any apology. [VERB noun]
honouredadjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Mrs Patrick Campbell was an honoured guest.
7. verb
If you honour an arrangement or promise, you do what you said you would do.
The two sides agreed to honour a new ceasefire. [VERB noun]
Mr Ashkenazy has informed us that he will be unable to honour his contract with SymphonyHall to perform the piano recital. [VERB noun]
8. uncountable noun [usually NOUN noun]
Honours is a type of university degree which is of a higher standard than a pass or ordinary degree.
...an honours degree in business studies.
9. countable noun
Judges, and mayors in the United States, are sometimes called your honour or referred to as his honour or her honour.
I have no further questions, your honour.
...His Honour Judge Brodrick.
10. See also guest of honour, lap of honour, maid of honour
11.
See do the honours
12.
See in honour of
13.
See in sb's honour
More Synonyms of honour
honour in British English
or US honor (ˈɒnə)
noun
1.
personal integrity; allegiance to moral principles
2.
a.
fame or glory
b.
a person or thing that wins this for another
he is an honour to the school
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.
a. bridge, poker
any of the top five cards in a suit or any of the four aces at no trumps
b. whist
any of the top four cards
8. golf
the right to tee off first
9. do honour to
10. do the honours
11. honour bright
12. in honour bound
13. in honour of
14. on one's honour
verb(transitive)
15.
to hold in respect or esteem
16.
to show courteous behaviour towards
17.
to worship
18.
to confer a distinction upon
19.
to accept and then pay when due (a cheque, draft, etc)
20.
to keep (one's promise); fulfil (a previous agreement)
21.
to bow or curtsy to (one's dancing partner)
Derived forms
honourer (ˈhonourer) or US honorer (ˈhonorer)
noun
honourless (ˈhonourless) or US honorless (ˈhonorless)
adjective
Word origin
C12: from Old French onor, from Latin honor esteem
Honour in British English
(ˈɒnə)
noun
(preceded byYour, His, or Her)
a.
a title used to or of certain judges
b.
(in Ireland) a form of address in general use
honour in American English
(ˈɑnər)
noun, verb transitive, adjective
British
honor
COBUILD Collocations
honour
absolute honour
great honour
huge honour
incredible honour
massive honour
Examples of 'honour' in a sentence
honour
The race being run in his name is a huge honour.
The Sun (2016)
It was a great honour when they did it.
The Sun (2016)
Who do you think holds the top club honours?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Less about honouring freedom fighters than bullying by media and opportunist politicians.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's an honour to work there.
The Sun (2016)
The Paralympics is another way to fight for respect and honour.
The Sun (2016)
If the location is correct, it means that the war dead could finally be honoured after two centuries of neglect.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Soldiers formed an honour guard.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In the same year he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom, the country's highest civilian honour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There are three small cards to one honour, so down I went.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She was mocked for expecting that an invitation that had been accepted would be honoured.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They consider it such an honour to marry one of the heroes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is the highest honour an animal can receive for bravery in war.
The Sun (2012)
They have honoured their promise and they have no more time to play with.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Warriors who should be in places that respect and honour their service.
The Sun (2015)
He will be guest of honour at a special lunch at the track.
The Sun (2006)
You always want to play for your country and to be captain is a huge honour.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This monumental honour has topped it off.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Students have the option of undertaking a third year at the university to gain an honours degree.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Britain will work with foreign governments to honour their local heroes.
The Sun (2013)
It has been an honour to serve it.
The Sun (2007)
The company refused to honour the verbal agreement and put him on a more expensive tariff.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Three times as many honours have been awarded to sportsmen and women compared with previous years.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Then to come and play for him is a great honour.
The Sun (2011)
We are playing for glory and honour.
Peter McEvoy For Love or Money (2006)
But it is a great honour to work for him.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are expected to recommend honours for the soldiers involved.
The Sun (2008)
The transfer should usually be honoured within three months.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What about honouring the hardworking people who keep going to pay taxes and their bills?
The Sun (2014)
It is an honour to accept an award from her.
The Sun (2009)
The reductions offered are not standardised and are honoured for one year after completion.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There's no reason why he cannot go for international honours.
The Sun (2006)
The fact that this migrant is greatly honoured in Britain made her anger all the more piquant.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Quotations
Duty, honour! We make these words say whatever we want, the same as we do with parrotsAlfred CapusMariage Bourgeois
If I lose mine honour, I lose myselfWilliam ShakespeareAntony and Cleopatra
The louder he talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoonsRalph Waldo EmersonThe Conduct of Life
There is no honour among thieves
In other languages
honour
British English: honour /ˈɒnə/ NOUN
Honour means doing what you believe to be right and being confident that you have done what is right.
I do not believe I can any longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
American English: honor
Arabic: شَرَف
Brazilian Portuguese: honra
Chinese: 荣誉
Croatian: čast
Czech: čest
Danish: ære
Dutch: eer
European Spanish: honor
Finnish: kunnia arvo
French: honneur
German: Ehre
Greek: τιμή υπόληψη
Italian: onore
Japanese: 道義心
Korean: 명예
Norwegian: ære
Polish: honor
European Portuguese: honra
Romanian: onoare
Russian: честь
Latin American Spanish: honor
Swedish: ära
Thai: เกียรติยศ
Turkish: onur şeref
Ukrainian: честь
Vietnamese: danh dự
British English: honour VERB
If someone is honoured, they are given public praise or an award for something they have done.
Two surgeons were last week honoured with the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology.
American English: honor
Brazilian Portuguese: honrar
Chinese: 给…以荣誉
European Spanish: otorgar
French: honorer
German: ehren
Italian: onorare
Japanese: 表彰する
Korean: 상을 받다
European Portuguese: honrar
Latin American Spanish: otorgar
All related terms of 'honour'
huge honour
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour , you mean you think it is something special and desirable .
great honour
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour , you mean you think it is something special and desirable .
honour-bound
morally obliged
honour bright
an exclamation pledging honour
honour guard
→ another name for guard of honour
honour school
(at Oxford University) one of the courses of study leading to an honours degree
absolute honour
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour , you mean you think it is something special and desirable .
do honour to
to pay homage to
honour killing
a murder committed by a male on a female relative considered to have brought dishonour to the family, usually through sexual activity forbidden by religion or tradition
in honour of
If something is arranged in honour of a particular event, it is arranged in order to celebrate that event.
massive honour
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour , you mean you think it is something special and desirable .
code of honour
the standards of behaviour regarded as proper
debt of honour
a debt that is morally but not legally binding , such as one contracted in gambling
Honour Moderations
(at Oxford University) the first public examination , in which candidates are placed into one of three classes of honours
incredible honour
If you describe doing or experiencing something as an honour , you mean you think it is something special and desirable .
in sb's honour
If something is arranged or happens in someone's honour , it is done specially to show appreciation of them.
lap of honour
If the winner of a race or game does a lap of honour , they run or drive slowly around a race track or sports field in order to receive the applause of the crowd .
maid of honour
A maid of honour is the chief bridesmaid at a wedding .
roll of honour
A roll of honour is a list of the names of people who are admired or respected for something they have done, such as doing very well in a sport or exam .
word of honour
a promise ; oath
court of honour
a military court that is instituted to investigate matters involving personal honour
field of honour
the place or scene of a battle or duel , esp of jousting tournaments in medieval times
guard of honour
A guard of honour is an official parade of troops , usually to celebrate or honour a special occasion , such as the visit of a head of state.
guest of honour
If you say that someone is the guest of honour at a dinner or other social occasion , you mean that they are the most important guest.
in honour bound
under a moral obligation
Legion of Honour
an order for civil or military merit instituted by Napoleon in France in 1802
matron of honour
a married woman serving as chief attendant to a bride
matrons of honour
a married woman serving as chief attendant to a bride
on one's honour
on the pledge of one's word or good name
point of honour
a circumstance , event, etc, that involves the defence of one's principles, social honour , etc
honour a commitment
If you make a commitment to do something, you promise that you will do it.
I would be honoured to accept我将(將)非常荣(榮)幸地接受 (wǒ jiāng fēicháng róngxìng de jiēshòu)
a festival in honour of David Hockney为(為)了对(對)大卫(衛)·霍可尼表示敬意而举(舉)行的庆(慶)祝活动(動) (wèile duì Dàwèi Huòkěnì biǎoshì jìngyì ér jǔxíng de qìngzhù huódòng)
it is an honour to work with her和她一起工作是很光荣(榮)的 (hé tā yīqǐ gōngzuò shì hěn guāngróng de)
the honour of hosting the Olympic Games主办(辦)奥(奧)林匹克运(運)动(動)会(會)的光荣(榮) (zhǔbàn Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì de guāngróng)
to do the honours (inf) 尽(盡)主人之谊(誼) (jìn zhǔrén zhī yì)
on my honour用我的名誉(譽)担(擔)保 (yòng wǒ de míngyù dānbǎo)
your/his honour (Law) 阁(閣)下 (géxià)
All related terms of 'honour'
on my honour
用我的名誉(譽)担(擔)保 yòng wǒ de míngyù dānbǎo
your/his honour
( Law ) 阁(閣)下 géxià
it is an honour to work with her
和她一起工作是很光荣(榮)的 hé tā yīqǐ gōngzuò shì hěn guāngróng de
a festival in honour of David Hockney
为(為)了对(對)大卫(衛)·霍可尼表示敬意而举(舉)行的庆(慶)祝活动(動) wèile duì Dàwèi Huòkěnì biǎoshì jìngyì ér jǔxíng de qìngzhù huódòng
the honour of hosting the Olympic Games
主办(辦)奥(奧)林匹克运(運)动(動)会(會)的光荣(榮) zhǔbàn Àolínpǐkè Yùndònghuì de guāngróng
to have the dubious honour/pleasure/distinction of ...
令人怀(懷)疑的 ... 的荣(榮)誉(譽)/愉快/区(區)别(別) lìng rén huáiyí de ... de róngyù/yúkuài/qūbié
1 (noun)
Definition
allegiance to moral principles
I can no longer serve with honour as a member of your government.
Synonyms
integrity
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
principles
morality
an effort to preserve traditional morality
honesty
It's time for complete honesty from political representatives.
goodness
He retains his faith in human goodness.
fairness
concern about the fairness of the election campaign
decency
righteousness
adopting a tone of moral righteousness
probity (formal)
a woman renowned for her moral probity
rectitude
people of the utmost rectitude
trustworthiness
uprightness
a contest in which courage and uprightness win through
Opposites
degradation
,
dishonesty
,
dishonour
,
meanness
,
insincerity
,
lowness
,
unscrupulousness
2 (noun)
Definition
fame or glory
He brought honour and glory to his country.
Synonyms
prestige
credit
His remarks lost him credit with many people.
reputation
The stories ruined his reputation.
glory
He had his moment of glory when he won the Berlin Marathon.
fame
At the height of his fame, his every word was valued.
distinction
He is a composer of distinction and sensitivity.
esteem
He is held in high esteem by his colleagues.
dignity
elevation
eminence
pilots who achieved eminence in the aeronautical world
renown
She used to be a singer of some renown.
repute
The UN's repute has risen immeasurably.
high standing
Opposites
shame
,
disgrace
,
disrepute
,
disrespect
,
dishonour
,
infamy
3 (noun)
Definition
great respect or esteem, or an outward sign of this
He was showered with honours - among them an Oscar in 1950.
Synonyms
title
He has retained his title as world chess champion.
award
She presented a bravery award to the schoolgirl.
distinction
She had served her country with distinction and strength.
accolade
the ultimate accolade in the sciences
decoration
He was awarded several military decorations.
laurel
adornment
Cosmetics are used for adornment.
4 (noun)
Definition
a person's good reputation and the respect they are given by other people
The country's national honour was at stake.
Synonyms
reputation
standing
He has improved his country's standing abroad.
prestige
Her work gained her international prestige.
image
status
She cheated banks to satisfy her desire for money and status.
stature
This club has grown in stature over the last 20 years.
good name
kudos
a new hotel chain that has won kudos for the way it treats guests
cachet
Does opera still have the cachet and prestige it once did?
5 (noun)
Definition
great respect or esteem, or an outward sign of this
One old campaigner at least will be received with honour.
Synonyms
acclaim
She won critical acclaim for her performance.
regard
I have a very high regard for him and what he has achieved.
respect
I have tremendous respect for him.
praise
I have nothing but praise for my employees.
recognition
At last, her father's work has received popular recognition.
compliments
homage
two marvellous films that pay homage to our literary heritage
accolades
reverence
in mutual support and reverence for the dead
deference
Out of deference to his feelings, I refrained from commenting.
adoration
They gazed at each other with mutual adoration.
commendation
Both teams deserve commendation for their performance.
veneration
Churchill was held in veneration in his lifetime.
Opposites
contempt
,
condemnation
,
scorn
,
disfavour
6 (noun)
Definition
a privilege or pleasure
Five other cities had been competing for the honour of staging the Games.
Synonyms
privilege
It's been a privilege to meet you.
credit
She is a credit to her family.
favour
pleasure
compliment
She accepted the compliment with good grace.
source of pride or satisfaction
7 (noun)
Definition
a woman's virginity
(old-fashioned)
She kept her honour intact throughout the war.
Synonyms
virginity
She lost her virginity when she was 20.
virtue
His many attempts on her virtue were all unavailing.
innocence
She can still evoke the innocence of 14-year-old Juliet.
purity
The American Female Reform Society promoted sexual purity.
modesty
When I turned over, she held the cotton sheet up above her face to protect my modesty.
chastity
I took a vow of chastity and celibacy when I became a priest.
1 (verb)
Definition
to give (someone) special praise, attention, or an award
Two pioneering surgeons were honoured with the Nobel Prize.
Synonyms
acclaim
He was acclaimed as the country's greatest modern painter.
celebrate
a festival to celebrate the life and work of this great composer
praise
Many praised him for taking a strong stand.
decorate
compliment
They complimented me on my performance.
commemorate
a gallery of paintings commemorating great moments in baseball history
dignify
I see no point in dignifying this kind of speculation with a response.
commend
She was highly commended for her bravery.
glorify
the banning of songs glorifying war
exalt
This book exalts her as a genius.
laud (literary)
They lauded the former president as a hero.
lionize
The press began to lionize him enthusiastically.
2 (verb)
Definition
to hold someone in respect
The Romans honoured their ancestors with statues and processions.
Synonyms
respect
I want him to respect me as a career woman.
value
Do you value your best friend enough?
esteem
a scholar whom he highly esteemed
prize
These items are greatly prized by collectors.
appreciate
Anyone can appreciate our music.
admire
He admired the way she had coped with life.
worship
people who still worship the pagan gods
adore
a desire to adore God
revere
Those who support him revere him.
glorify
We are committed to serving the Lord and glorifying his name.
reverence
Some men even seem to reverence them.
exalt
venerate
My father venerated the African gods with offerings and prayers.
hallow
Opposites
slight
, insult,
offend
,
scorn
,
degrade
,
dishonour
,
defame
3 (verb)
Definition
to keep (one's promise)
He had failed to honour his word.
Synonyms
fulfil
He is too ill to fulfil his duties.
keep
I'm hoping you'll keep your promise to come for a long visit.
carry out
observe
Forcing motorists to observe speed restrictions is difficult.
discharge
the quiet competence with which he discharged his many duties
live up to
be true to
be as good as (informal)
be faithful to
4 (verb)
Definition
to accept and then pay (a cheque or bill)
The bank refused to honour his cheque.
Synonyms
pay
If you cannot pay your debts, you can file for bankruptcy.
take
When I took the job, I thought I could change the system.
accept
Everyone told me I should accept the job.
clear
pass
The Senate passed the bill by a vote of seventy-three to twenty-four.
cash
credit
You can't credit anything he says.
acknowledge
I acknowledge that I made a mistake.
Opposites
refuse
Quotations
Duty, honour! We make these words say whatever we want, the same as we do with parrots [Alfred Capus – Mariage Bourgeois]If I lose mine honour, I lose myself [William Shakespeare – Antony and Cleopatra]The louder he talked of his honour, the faster we counted our spoons [Ralph Waldo Emerson – The Conduct of Life]