Tribute
Something given to honor or show respect for a person, event, or achievement; it can also refer to a payment or levy demanded by one ruler from another as homage.
nounTribute
Something given to honor or show respect for a person, event, or achievement; it can also refer to a payment or levy demanded by one ruler from another as homage.
nounImagine This
Picture a city ceremony where a new statue is unveiled. A choir sings, dignitaries speak, and banners read 'In Tribute to the Scientist.' A crowd places flowers around the statue to honor their legacy.
Sounds Like
TRIB-yoot
Looks Like
Related forms such as contribute, distribute, attribute (sharing the same root 'tribut-'); visually resembles these words.
Remember This
The word comes from Latin tributum meaning a payment or contribution, and it has long carried the sense of payment, gift, or honor given to someone.
Other Forms
Connect With
homage, honor, praise, recognition, memorial
Note
Common collocations include 'pay tribute to,' 'a tribute to someone's memory,' and 'tribute speech.' Do not confuse with 'contribute' (to give as part of a group effort) or 'attribute' (to regard something as belonging to or caused by someone).
Study Deeper
- The town paid tribute to its veterans with a solemn parade.
- Ancient empires collected tribute from their subjects to demonstrate power.
From Old French tribute, from Latin tributum 'a payment, levy', from tribuere 'to pay, assign, bestow'.
Mnemonic: Think of 'pay' or 'praise' as the core idea of tribute. A simple cue is 'Pay or Praise' — tribute is something you pay to show respect or honor.
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Pragmatic
adjectiveDealing with things in a practical, realistic way rather than theoretical considerations; focusing on workable solutions.
Remedy
nounA medicine or treatment that cures or alleviates a disease; or a means of solving or correcting a problem. As a verb, to remedy means to fix or rectify something.
Obliterate
verbTo wipe out; to erase completely or destroy utterly.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Homage
nounHonor or tribute shown publicly or personally; respect paid to someone or something.
Abasement
nounThe act or instance of humiliating or degrading someone; the state of being lowered in dignity or status.
Absurdity
nounThe quality or state of being wildly unreasonable, illogical, or ridiculous; something that is completely contrary to reason or common sense.
Accent
nounA distinctive way of pronouncing words; the act of emphasizing a syllable or word (as a verb, to accent means to emphasize).
Accolade
nounAn honor; a public expression of praise or an award.
Acrimony
nounBitterness of speech or manner; ill feeling