Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having high status and respect; admired as one of the best and most important: Describes a person, institution, or thing that is held in very high esteem by society or within a particular field due to perceived excellence, success, or importance.
   • Conferring or reflecting prestige: Describes something that, by its nature or association, brings honor, respect, or high status to a person or thing connected with it.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She was offered a position at a prestigious law firm in the city.
  • Winning the Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious achievements in science.
  • The university's prestigious reputation attracts students from around the world.
  • He holds a prestigious award for his contributions to literature.

Advanced Usage

• "prestigious enough to": Used to indicate that the high status or reputation of something qualifies it for a particular purpose or recognition.
  • The award is prestigious enough to significantly advance one's career.
• Implied comparison: Often used to implicitly rank or distinguish something as being among the top tier.
  • They only publish papers in the most prestigious journals.

Variants and Related Words

• Prestige (noun): Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of a perception of their achievements or quality.
  • The job offers a high salary but little prestige.
• Prestigiously (adverb): In a way that confers or is associated with prestige.
  • The event was prestigiously hosted at the palace.

Synonyms

• Esteemed: Held in great respect; admired.
• Reputable: Having a good reputation.
• Illustrious: Well known, respected, and admired for past achievements.
• Renowned: Known or talked about by many people; famous.
• Respected: Admired by many people for one's qualities or achievements.

Antonyms

• Unknown: Not known or familiar.
• Obscure: Not discovered or known about; uncertain.
• Disreputable: Not considered to be respectable in character or appearance.
• Lowly: Low in status or importance; humble.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Prestigious award/prize: An award that is highly respected and sought after.
  • The Pulitzer Prize is a prestigious award for journalists.
• Prestigious institution/university: An educational or other institution with a very high reputation.
  • He graduated from a prestigious institution like Harvard.
• Prestigious position/job: A role that carries significant respect and status within a profession.
  • Becoming a Supreme Court justice is a prestigious position.
• Prestigious event: A gathering or ceremony that is considered important and attended by distinguished people.
  • The gala is the most prestigious event of the social season.

Adjective

1. exerting influence by reason of high status or prestige
   • a prestigious professor at a prestigious university
2. having an illustrious reputation; respected
   • our esteemed leader
   • a prestigious author