tribute
noun
trib·ute ˈtri-(ˌ)byüt 
-byət
1
a
: something given or contributed voluntarily as due or deserved
especially : a gift or service showing respect, gratitude, or affection
a floral tribute
b
: something (such as material evidence or a formal attestation) that indicates the worth, virtue, or effectiveness of the one in question
the design is a tribute to his ingenuity
2
a
: a payment by one ruler or nation to another in acknowledgment of submission or as the price of protection
also : the tax levied for such a payment
b(1)
: an excessive tax, rental, or tariff imposed by a government, sovereign, lord, or landlord
(2)
: an exorbitant charge levied by a person or group having the power of coercion
c
: the liability to pay tribute
Did you know?
Tribute originally took the form of things given from a weaker group to the dominant power of a region—a bit like the "protection money" the Mafia gets from small businesses after making them offers they can't refuse, though the older form of tribute actually did buy the weaker group some protection from enemy forces. Tribute could come in the form of valuables, cattle, or even produce, and might include the loan of warriors to strengthen the ruler's army. But when we "pay tribute" today, it's generally in the form of praise. And when we say, for instance, that a successful school "is a tribute to" the vision of its founder, we mean that its success is itself a form of praise for the person who founded it. And a "tribute band" is a rock group intended to honor a great band of the past.
Synonyms
- accolade
- citation
- commendation
- dithyramb
- encomium
- eulogium
- eulogy
- homage
- hymn
- paean
- panegyric
- salutation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The concert was a tribute to the musician. Yellow ribbons were tied on trees as a tribute to the soldiers at war. an event at which artists and musicians paid tribute to the famous composer The country was forced to pay tribute. The ruler paid a tribute every year.
Recent Examples on the Web Prince Harry used his grandmother Queen Elizabeth's own words in his touching tribute to her following her death on Thursday at age 96. 
Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 On September 12, Prince Harry shared his personal tribute to the Queen. Kerry Mcdermott, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 New York Yankees fans loved seeing Derek Jeter back in the Bronx Friday night during his Hall of Fame induction tribute before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2022 Beatrice, too, left her own floral tribute to her late grandmother. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 10 Sep. 2022 Bezos also paid his only separate tribute to the Queen – along with a host of other business leaders – commenting on a tweet from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 Most fellow passengers who noticed his tribute have loved the minimalist-style tattoo, either out of a sense of hometown pride or nostalgia for the old days. Spencer Buell, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Dame Helen Mirren's transcendent performance as Her Majesty won her the Academy Award for best actress in 2007, and her tribute in her acceptance speech is as apt a eulogy as any. Maria Puente And Jeff Stinson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 Gibson debuted the tune on her tour for The Body Remembers as her heartfelt tribute to her mom. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 On September 12, Prince Harry shared his personal tribute to the Queen. Kerry Mcdermott, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2022 New York Yankees fans loved seeing Derek Jeter back in the Bronx Friday night during his Hall of Fame induction tribute before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2022 Beatrice, too, left her own floral tribute to her late grandmother. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 10 Sep. 2022 Bezos also paid his only separate tribute to the Queen – along with a host of other business leaders – commenting on a tweet from former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2022 Most fellow passengers who noticed his tribute have loved the minimalist-style tattoo, either out of a sense of hometown pride or nostalgia for the old days. Spencer Buell, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 Dame Helen Mirren's transcendent performance as Her Majesty won her the Academy Award for best actress in 2007, and her tribute in her acceptance speech is as apt a eulogy as any. Maria Puente And Jeff Stinson, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 Gibson debuted the tune on her tour for The Body Remembers as her heartfelt tribute to her mom. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English tribut, from Latin tributum, from neuter of tributus, past participle of tribuere to allot, bestow, grant, pay, from tribus tribe
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a
Phrases Containing tribute
Kids Definition
tribute
noun
trib·ute ˈtri-byüt
1
: something done, said, or given to show respect, gratitude, or affection
2
: a payment made by one ruler or state to another especially to gain peace
distributes
verb
1
as in classifies
to arrange or assign according to type distribute the assignments according to seniority Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- classifies
- distinguishes
- relegates
- ranks
- categorizes
- types
- groups
- separates
- organizes
- identifies
- digests
- grades
- lists
- recognizes
- places
- sorts
- codifies
- classes
- compartmentalizes
- disposes
- ranges
- refers
- compartments
- pegs
- assorts
- catalogs
- systematizes
- culls
- files
- orders
- breaks down
- alphabetizes
- indexes
- sifts
- marshals
- regroups
- winnows
- shelves
- reclassifies
- arrays
- catalogues
- pigeonholes
- clusters
- draws up
- sets
- sieves
- screens
- clumps
- marshalls
- colligates
- subcategorizes
- recategorizes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confuses
- scrambles
- jumbles
- lumps
- disarranges
- mixes (up)
- misclassifies
- missorts
- mistypes
2
as in allots
to give as a share or portion committed to distributing the school's limited scholarship money so that it benefits more students Synonyms & Similar Words
- allots
- assigns
- allocates
- apportions
- lots
- allows
- gives
- rations
- divides
- dispenses
- administers
- splits
- grants
- donates
- redistributes
- portions
- contributes
- measures
- deals
- awards
- meters
- parts
- prorates
- hands out
- doles out
- reallocates
- reassigns
- accords
- reserves
- admeasures
- earmarks
- parcels (out)
- shares (out)
- chips in
- metes (out)
- reapportions
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denies
- retains
- withholds
- deprives (of)
- keeps
- appropriates
- begrudges
- confiscates
- arrogates
- stints
3
as in dispenses
to give out (something) to appropriate individuals distributed pamphlets on recycling to everyone in the neighborhood Synonyms & Similar Words
- dispenses
- allocates
- administers
- provides
- divides
- supplies
- donates
- assigns
- furnishes
- apportions
- portions
- redistributes
- contributes
- shares
- prorates
- hands out
- disseminates
- circulates
- allots
- spreads
- splits
- doles out
- disburses
- appropriates
- issues
- disperses
- lots
- bestows
- parcels (out)
- rations
- deals (out)
- scatters
- metes (out)
- proportions
- parts
- allows
- sets
- dishes out
- reallocates
- pledges
- admeasures
- measures (out)
- shares (out)
- chips in
- divvies (up)
- dollops (out)
- reapportions
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- denies
- withholds
- rejects
- refuses
- disallows
- declines
- deprives (of)
- misallocates
- begrudges
- pinches
- skimps
- stints
- niggles (out)