Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense merits, present participle meriting, past tense, past participle merited
1. uncountable noun
If something has merit, it has good or worthwhile qualities.
The argument seemed to have considerable merit.
Box-office success mattered more than artistic merit.
Your feature has the merit of simply stating what has been achieved.
Synonyms: worth, value, quality, credit More Synonyms of merit
2. plural noun [usually with poss]
The merits of something are its advantages or other good points.
They have been persuaded of the merits of peace.
...the technical merits of a film. [+ of]
It was obvious that, whatever its merits, their work would never be used.
Synonyms: advantage, value, quality, worth More Synonyms of merit
3. verb
If someone or something merits a particular action or treatment, they deserve it.
[formal]
He said he had done nothing wrong to merit a criminal investigation. [VERB noun]
Such ideas merit careful consideration. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: deserve, warrant, be entitled to, earn More Synonyms of merit
4.
See on merit
merit in British English
(ˈmɛrɪt)
noun
1.
worth or superior quality; excellence
work of great merit
2. (often plural)
a deserving or commendable quality or act
judge us on our merits
3. Christianity
spiritual credit granted or received for good works
4.
the fact or state of deserving; desert
5. an obsolete word for reward
verbWord forms: -its, -iting or -ited
6. (transitive)
to be worthy of; deserve
she merits promotion
Derived forms
merited (ˈmerited)
adjective
meritless (ˈmeritless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve
merit in American English
(ˈmɛrɪt)
noun
1. [sometimes pl.]
the state, fact, or quality of deserving well or, sometimes, ill; desert
2.
worth; value; excellence
3.
something deserving reward, praise, or gratitude
4.
a reward or honor given for superior qualities or conduct; mark, badge, etc. awarded for excellence
5. [pl.]
intrinsic rightness or wrongness apart from formalities, emotional considerations, etc.
to decide a case on its merits
verb transitive
6.
to deserve; be worthy of
Derived forms
meritless (ˈmeritless)
adjective
Word origin
OFr merite < L meritum < meritus, pp. of merere, to deserve, earn, akin to mereri, to serve for hire < IE base *(s)mer-, to remember, care (hence provide for, allot a share to) > mourn, L memor, mora, Gr meros, a part, moira, lot, fate
Examples of 'merit' in a sentence
merit
He had gone to work at Harbor Lights for minimum wage, and had received cost-of-living and merit raises since then.
Pickard, Nancy NO BODY (2001)
It wasn't until he reached the sea-front that he saw any merit in the place at all.
Ross, Melville LOHENGRIN (2001)
"The Engineer will arrive should the moment merit ," came the reply.
Clive Barker THE HELLBOUND HEART (2001)
"The substance of what he is saying is not without merit.
Susan Isaacs AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (2001)
Quotations
What is merit? The opinion one man entertains of anotherLord Palmerston
In other languages
merit
British English: merit NOUN
If something has merit, it has good or worthwhile qualities.
The argument seemed to have considerable merit.
American English: merit
Brazilian Portuguese: mérito
Chinese: 优点
European Spanish: mérito
French: mérite
German: Wert
Italian: merito
Japanese: 価値
Korean: 가치
European Portuguese: mérito
Latin American Spanish: mérito
British English: merit VERB
If someone or something merits a particular action or treatment, they deserve it.
He said he had done nothing wrong to merit a criminal investigation.
American English: merit
Brazilian Portuguese: merecer
Chinese: 应得
European Spanish: merecer
French: mériter
German: verdienen
Italian: meritare
Japanese: ～に値する
Korean: 가치가 있다
European Portuguese: merecer
Latin American Spanish: merecer
Chinese translation of 'merit'
merit
(ˈmɛrɪt)
n(u)
(= worth, value) 价(價)值 (jiàzhí)
vt
(frm, = deserve) 值得 (zhídé)
on merit or on its/their merits根据(據)实(實)际(際)功过(過)或根据(據)是非曲直 (gēnjù shíjì gōngguò huò gēnjù shìfēi qūzhí)
Derived Forms
meritsn pl (= advantages) 优(優)点(點) (yōudiǎn)
1 (noun)
Definition
worth or superior quality
Box-office success mattered more than artistic merit.
Synonyms
worth
Her boss did not appreciate her true worth until she quit.
value
The value of his investment has risen by more than 100%.
quality
a college of quality
credit
It would be wrong of us to take all the credit for this result.
talent
desert
virtue
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.
integrity
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
excellence
a school once noted for its academic excellence
goodness
her total belief in the goodness of the human spirit
worthiness
2 (noun)
Definition
an admirable or advantageous quality
They have been persuaded of the merits of the scheme.
Synonyms
advantage
value
Studies are needed to see if these therapies have any value.
quality
high quality paper and plywood
worth
strength
Take into account your own strengths and weaknesses.
asset
Her leadership qualities were a great asset to the party.
virtue
His chief virtue is patience.
good point
strong point
Discretion is not his strong point.
worthiness
(verb)
Definition
to be worthy of
Such ideas merit careful consideration.
Synonyms
deserve
The elderly should be treated with the respect that they deserve.
warrant
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation.
be entitled to
earn
Companies must earn a reputation for honesty.
incur
The government has also incurred huge debts.
have a right to
be worthy of
a cause which is worthy of our support
have a claim to
Quotation
What is merit? The opinion one man entertains of another [Lord Palmerston]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of asset
Definition
a thing or person that is valuable or useful
Her leadership qualities were a great asset to the party.
Synonyms
benefit,
help,
service,
aid,
advantage,
strength,
resource,
attraction,
blessing,
boon,
good point,
strong point,
ace in the hole,
feather in your cap,
ace up your sleeve
in the sense of be worthy of
a cause which is worthy of our support
Synonyms
deserve,
rate,
earn,
justify,
merit,
qualify for,
warrant,
have a right to,
be deserving of,
have a claim to or on
in the sense of credit
Definition
praise or approval, as for an achievement or quality
It would be wrong of us to take all the credit for this result.
Synonyms
praise,
honour,
recognition,
glory,
thanks,
approval,
fame,
tribute,
merit,
acclaim,
acknowledgment,
kudos,
commendation,
Brownie points
Synonyms of 'merit'
merit
Explore 'merit' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of earn
Definition
to acquire or deserve through one's behaviour or action
Companies must earn a reputation for honesty.
Synonyms
deserve,
win,
gain,
attain,
justify,
merit,
warrant,
be entitled to,
reap,
be worthy of
in the sense of excellence
Definition
the quality of being exceptionally good
a school once noted for its academic excellence
Synonyms
high quality,
worth,
merit,
distinction,
virtue,
goodness,
perfection,
superiority,
purity,
greatness,
supremacy,
eminence,
virtuosity,
transcendence,
pre-eminence,
fineness
in the sense of goodness
Definition
the quality of being good
her total belief in the goodness of the human spirit
Synonyms
excellence,
value,
quality,
worth,
merit,
superiority
in the sense of incur
Definition
to bring (something undesirable) upon oneself
The government has also incurred huge debts.
Synonyms
sustain,
experience,
suffer,
gain,
earn,
collect,
meet with,
provoke,
run up,
induce,
arouse,
expose yourself to,
lay yourself open to,
bring upon yourself
in the sense of integrity
Definition
honesty
I have always regarded him as a man of integrity.
Synonyms
honesty,
principle,
honour,
virtue,
goodness,
morality,
purity,
righteousness,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
truthfulness,
trustworthiness,
incorruptibility,
uprightness,
scrupulousness,
reputability
in the sense of quality
Definition
degree or standard of excellence
a college of quality
Synonyms
excellence,
status,
merit,
position,
value,
worth,
distinction,
virtue,
superiority,
calibre,
eminence,
pre-eminence
in the sense of quality
Definition
degree or standard of excellence
high quality paper and plywood
Synonyms
standard,
standing,
class,
condition,
value,
rank,
grade,
merit,
classification,
calibre
in the sense of strength
Definition
something regarded as valuable or a source of power
Take into account your own strengths and weaknesses.
Synonyms
strong point,
skill,
asset,
advantage,
talent,
forte,
speciality,
aptitude
in the sense of strong point
Definition
something at which one is very good
Discretion is not his strong point.
Synonyms
forte,
strength,
speciality,
advantage,
asset,
strong suit,
métier,
long suit (informal)
in the sense of value
Definition
an amount of money considered to be a fair exchange for something
The value of his investment has risen by more than 100%.
Synonyms
cost,
price,
worth,
rate,
equivalent,
market price,
face value,
asking price,
selling price,
monetary worth
Additional synonyms
in the sense of value
Definition
the desirability of something, often in terms of its usefulness or exchangeability
Studies are needed to see if these therapies have any value.
Synonyms
importance,
use,
benefit,
worth,
merit,
point,
help,
service,
sense,
profit,
advantage,
utility,
significance,
effectiveness,
mileage (informal),
practicality,
usefulness,
efficacy,
desirability,
serviceableness
in the sense of virtue
Definition
moral goodness
His mother was held up to the family as a paragon of virtue.
Synonyms
goodness,
honour,
integrity,
worth,
dignity,
excellence,
morality,
honesty,
decency,
respectability,
nobility,
righteousness,
propriety,
probity (formal),
rectitude,
worthiness,
high-mindedness,
incorruptibility,
uprightness,
virtuousness,
ethicalness
in the sense of virtue
Definition
a positive moral quality
His chief virtue is patience.
Synonyms
merit,
strength,
asset,
plus (informal),
attribute,
good quality,
good point,
strong point
in the sense of warrant
Definition
to make necessary
The allegations are serious enough to warrant an investigation.