Cool MatePrize vs Reward
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Prize
Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
Reward
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Reward
| Prize | Reward | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/praɪz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/praɪz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈwɔːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈwɔːrd/"]/ |
| Meaning | An award or something given for winning. | Something given for doing something good or valuable. |
| Example | She won a prize for her excellent performance in the competition. | The reward for completing the project was a week off from work. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | big, great, prestigious, award (somebody), give (somebody), offer, go to somebody/something, be worth something, total something, winner, money, competition, prize for, prize in, big, great, prestigious, award (somebody), give (somebody), offer, go to somebody/something, be worth something, total something, winner, money, competition, prize for, prize in | great, high, huge, earn, enjoy, gain, system, as a reward, reward for, reward enough, reward and punishment, be its own reward, big, huge, large, offer, put up, give somebody, money, reward for |
| Antonyms | forfeit, penalty | punishment, penalty |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'prize' with 'price' (the cost of something)., Using 'prizes' as a verb instead of a noun., Forgetting to specify what kind of prize (e.g., cash, trophy). | Confused with 'award' which refers to a formal recognition., Using the word without an object, e.g., 'I will reward' instead of 'I will reward you.', Mixing up 'reward' with 'punish' when discussing outcomes. |
| Usage notes | Use 'prize' in contexts related to competitions or achievements. It's appropriate in both casual and formal settings, such as schools, contests, or ceremonies. Avoid using it in non-competitive contexts where no reward is given. | Commonly used in various contexts like education, work, and personal relationships. Suitable for formal and informal settings; avoid using in contexts that diminish the value of the reward. |
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Frequently asked questions: Prize vs Reward
What's the difference between Prize and Reward?
Prize: An award or something given for winning. Reward: Something given for doing something good or valuable.
Which is more common: Prize and Reward?
Reward is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Prize and Reward?
Reward is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Prize and Reward the same CEFR level?
Prize: A2, Reward: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Prize and Reward?
Prize: noun, Reward: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Prize: She won a prize for her excellent performance in the competition. Reward: The reward for completing the project was a week off from work.
Can I use Prize and Reward interchangeably?
Not always. Prize and Reward are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.