noun

merit

MEH-riht

noun

A quality that deserves praise, reward, or recognition.

"The proposal has real merit and deserves a closer look."

"Judge the essay on its merit, not on who wrote it."

verb

To deserve or earn something, whether good or bad.

"His hard work merited a promotion."

How to Use Merit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing good or worthy enough to deserve praise, reward, or attention.

Common pairings

on its merits merit a response artistic merit

Word Forms

merited past tense, merits plural, merit plural, merited plural, merits singular, merit singular, meritest singular, merited singular, meritedst singular, meriteth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The proposal has real _____ and deserves a closer look.

Etymology

From Middle English merite, ultimately from Latin merere, "to earn or deserve."

Rhymes for merit

inherit

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