What does "tribute" mean?
An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.
Tribute
/ˈtɹɪbjuːt/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.
- Grammar: tribute is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: acclaim, acclamation, accolade, account.
- Useful contrasts: autonomy, criticism, denunciation.
- Usage evidence: The whole company stood in silence for a few moments, as a tribute to the dead.
How to use "tribute"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tribute" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tribute" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tribute" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tribute" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tribute" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "acclaim" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tribute", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift. countable, uncountable
"Please accept this as a tribute of our thanks."
- 2 payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence wordnet
- 3 An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.; An homage made in a body of work to another work or creator. countable, uncountable
"Did you catch the Up in Smoke tribute in that episode of That '70s Show?"
- 4 payment by one nation for protection by another wordnet
- 5 A payment made by one nation to another in submission. countable, uncountable
"The Ancient Romans made their conquered countries pay tribute."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 something given or done as an expression of esteem wordnet
- 7 Extortion; protection money. countable, uncountable
- 8 A payment made by a feudal vassal to his lord. countable, uncountable
- 9 A certain proportion of the mined ore, or of its value, given to the miner as payment. countable, uncountable
"The setting of a Copper Mine upon tribute , has this difference : the Tributor is at the sole expence of digging , raising , and dressing , all the Ore that can be made merchantable"
- 10 Ellipsis of cum tribute. Internet, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable, vulgar
Verb
- 1 To pay as tribute. transitive
"Amorous Trifler, that spendeth[…]his Afternoones in discourse with Paint, or Lust, tributing most precious Minutes, to the Scepter of a Fanne."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The whole company stood in silence for a few moments, as a tribute to the dead."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tribute"?
Common synonyms include: acclaim, acclamation, accolade, account, acknowledgment, acknowledgment exclamation.
How do you use "tribute" in a sentence?
The whole company stood in silence for a few moments, as a tribute to the dead.
How do you pronounce "tribute"?
Pronounced /ˈtɹɪbjuːt/.
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English tribut (14th c.), from Middle French tribut, from Latin tributum (“tribute”, literally “a thing contributed or paid”), past participle of tribuere (“to assign, allot”), usually derived from tribus (“tribe”, which see).