prestigious
gb/pɚstˈid͡ʒəs/ us/pɚstˈid͡ʒəs/
B2
English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
high in status and widely respected
Very respected and important because of high quality, success, or a strong reputation.
Usage pattern:
a prestigious [institution/job/award/position/title]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "prestigious" with "precious" because they look similar, but "precious" means very valuable or loved, not high in status. Another common mistake is using the noun *prestige* instead of the adjective, for example saying "a prestige university" instead of the correct "a prestigious university." Also, learners may overuse it for everyday things (e.g., "a prestigious cafe"), while in natural English it is usually reserved for high-level institutions, jobs, or awards.
Synonyms
respected (More general and common; does not always suggest high status or exclusiveness the way "prestigious" often does.)
|
esteemed (Slightly more formal and literary; focuses on admiration rather than on social status or fame.)
|
high-profile (Emphasizes visibility and public attention; something high-profile is not always admired, but something prestigious almost always is.)
Antonyms
obscure (Describes something little known; the opposite of being well-known and admired like something prestigious.)
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disreputable (Suggests a bad reputation and lack of respect, directly contrasting with the admired image of something prestigious.)
Collocations
prestigious university
|prestigious award
|prestigious position
|prestigious job
|prestigious institution
|prestigious title
Themes
status
|education
|work
|culture
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She graduated from a prestigious university known for its engineering program.
- Winning such a prestigious award changed the direction of his career.
- He left a prestigious law firm to start his own practice.
- The festival is one of the most prestigious events in the film industry.
- Getting a position at that prestigious hospital is extremely competitive.
Learner examples
- He works for a prestigious company in the city.
- Her parents want her to go to a prestigious college.
- It is hard to get this prestigious scholarship.
- The chef trained at a prestigious cooking school.
- This is the most prestigious prize in our country.
Grammar
Dictionary form
prestigious
IPA
GB/pɚstˈid͡ʒəs/
US/pɚstˈid͡ʒəs/
Syllables & stress
pres - ti - gi - ous (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pres)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: prestigious
Word family
Core family
prestige
noun B2
Related words
prestigiously
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unprestigious
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.