high regard or great respect given, received, or enjoyed
; esp.,
a.
glory; fame; renown
b.
good reputation; credit
2.
a keen sense of right and wrong; adherence to action or principles considered right; integrity
to conduct oneself with honor
3.
a.
chastity or purity
b.
reputation for chastity
4.
high rank or position; distinction; dignity
the great honor of the presidency
5. [H-]
a title of respect given to certain officials, as judges
, preceded by Your or by His or Her
6.
something done or given as a token or act of respect
; specif.,
a. Obsolete
a curtsy; bow
b.
a social courtesy or privilege
may I have the honor of this dance?
c.
a badge, token, decoration, etc. given to a person
d. [pl.]
public acts or ceremonies of respect
buried with full military honors
e. [pl.]
special distinction or credit given to students, esp. at commencement, for high academic achievement
f. [pl.]
an advanced course of study in place of or in addition to the regular course, for exceptional students
Honors English
7.
a person or thing that brings respect and fame to a school, country, etc.
8. Bridge
a.
any of the five highest cards in a suit
b. [pl.]
all, or any four, of the five highest cards of the trump suit or, in a no-trump hand, the four aces
9. Golf
the privilege of driving first from the tee
verb transitive
10.
to respect greatly; regard highly; esteem
11.
to show great respect or high regard for; treat with deference and courtesy
12.
to worship (a deity)
13.
to do or give something in honor of
14.
a.
to accept and pay when due
to honor a check
b.
to carry out the terms of
to honor a treaty obligation
c.
to accept as valid, good for credit, etc.
a store that honors most credit cards
15.
to make a bow to in square dancing
adjective
16.
of or showing honor
honor roll
Idioms:
do honor to
do the honors
honor bright
in honor of
on one's honor
SYNONYMY NOTE: honor, as compared here, implies popular acknowledgment of a person's right to great respectas well as any expression of such respect [in honor of the martyred dead]; homage suggests great esteem shown in praise, tributes, or obeisance [to pay homage to the genius of Milton]; reverence implies deep respect together with love [he held her memory in reverence]; deference suggests a display of courteous regard for a superior, or for one to whom respectis due, by yielding to the person's status, claims, or wishes [in deference to his age]
Word origin
ME honour < OFr < L honor, honos, official dignity, repute, esteem
Examples of 'honor' in a sentence
honor
They have more ability and sense of honor than either of us.
Adair, Tom (Intro) THREE KINDS OF KISSING - SCOTTISH SHORT STORIES (2001)
It was like I'd been blooded on my first hunt, and survived with honor.
Kate Cann GO! (2001)
Leigh," he added turning my way, `perhaps you will do me the honor of dancing with me later.
Andrews, Virginia WEB OF DREAMS (2001)
All related terms of 'honor'
honour
Honour means doing what you believe to be right and being confident that you have done what is right.
honor guard
An honor guard is a group of troops who formally greet or accompany someone special such as a visiting head of state.
honor roll
a list of students who have gained high grades
honor bright
honestly ; truthfully
honor society
a society that high-achieving students are invited to join
honor system
in some schools, prisons , etc., a system whereby individuals are trusted to obey the rules, do their work, take tests , etc. without direct supervision
do honor to
to show great respect for
in honor of
as a token of respect for
debt of honor
a gambling debt : not legally enforceable
field of honor
a dueling place
guest of honor
the person in whose honor a festivity or ceremony is held
in sb's honor
If something is arranged or happens in someone's honor , it is done specially to show appreciation of them.
maid of honor
an unmarried woman acting as chief attendant to the bride at a wedding
Medal of Honor
the highest US military decoration , awarded by Congress for conspicuous bravery in action: instituted in 1861 ( Navy ), 1862 ( Army )
on one's honor
staking one's good name or one's truthfulness, trustworthiness, or reliability
point of honor
a matter affecting a person's honor
word of honor
pledged word; solemn promise ; oath
Legion of Honor
a French honorary society founded in 1802 by Napoleon for recognition of distinguished military or civil service
matron of honor
a married woman acting as chief attendant to the bride at a wedding
the honor system
a reliance on people to behave properly without supervision
honour-bound
morally obliged
code of honour
the standards of behaviour regarded as proper
Congressional Medal of Honor
the highest US military decoration , awarded by Congress for conspicuous bravery in action: instituted in 1861 ( Navy ), 1862 (Army)
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.