Meaning & use
merit
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The quality of deserving praise, reward, or serious attention because of worth or ability.
Grammar: Uncountable when naming worth in general; compare the countable plural sense for separate good points.
Patterns
- on merit
- of merit
- merit-based
- judge on merit
The scholarship is awarded purely on merit.
The idea has real merit and should be tested.
Pay should be based on skill and merit.
nounusually plural
The good points, strengths, or arguments of a case or proposal, considered together.
Grammar: Usually plural in the merits of something; singular is less common in this use.
Patterns
- the merits of something
- on its merits
- weigh the merits
We discussed the merits of the new schedule.
The judge considered each case on its merits.
Before buying, weigh the merits of both phones.
verbtransitiveformal
To deserve or be worthy of attention, reward, punishment, or discussion.
Grammar: Formal and transitive; common objects are attention, consideration, reward, and punishment.
Patterns
- merit attention
- merit consideration
- merit punishment
The report merits careful attention.
Such behavior merits an apology at the very least.
The proposal merits further discussion before rejection.
Word forms
| noun plural | merits |
|---|---|
| third person singular | merits |
| past tense | merited |
| past participle | merited |
| -ing form | meriting |
Common combinations
- on merit
- The prize was given on merit, not connections.
- merit-based decision
- The committee promised a merit-based decision.
- merit attention
- This safety issue merits attention today.
Synonyms and how they differ
- worth
- Focuses on value rather than deserving praise.
- virtue
- A good quality, often of a person, plan, or thing.
- deserve
- The verb sense is close, but merit sounds more formal.
Opposites
Word family
- meritorious adjective
- Deserving praise or reward in a formal context.
- meritocracy noun
- A system where success depends on ability and effort.
- meritocratic adjective
- Relating to advancement by ability rather than privilege.
Practice
Choose the best word: “The complaint is serious and ___ investigation.”
Choose one answer.
The singular subject complaint needs merits, formal verb meaning deserves. Merit without -s fails agreement, and pretend changes the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “merit”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.