honoured

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "honoured" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express respect for someone or something. For example: "We felt honoured to be invited to the Queen's garden party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Film

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Thus, Reid is only the fourth poet to win the overall Costa (or Whitbread as it was known under its earlier sponsor) and of those four, three have been honoured for elegies.

The Guardian - Books

Lamb is worried that pledges he and then deputy prime minister Nick Clegg made to introduce a waiting time target for patients needing treatment for eating disorders may not be honoured.

The Guardian

So some legends have been carted out, Beetson has been duly honoured, and the fireworks are lighting up the night sky.

The Guardian - Sport

The Manchester Thunder coach, whose team are currently undefeated in the Superleague and seeking a second consecutive league title, said she was "honoured and proud" to be given the opportunity.

The Guardian - Sport

And we Lib Dems would all be honoured to be friends of Vince.

The Guardian - Opinion

But who is more likely to be honoured as things stand?

The Guardian - Opinion

Emmy Awards, September 2007 GuardianFilms has received an Emmy Award in the Best International Current Affairs Film category for Baghdad: A Doctor's Story One World Media Awards, June 2007 Two Guardian journalists were honoured at the One World Media Awards.

The Guardian

In an effort to make sure each student is honoured a public google document has been created "to ensure we never forget the names of victims of internal and external acts of mass violence".

The Guardian

Clare Balding and Michael Palin will be honoured at the awards, which will be hosted by Graham Norton and screened on BBC1.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Turkmenistan's equestrian-mad leader has been honoured with a huge monument in the capital city, featuring his likeness atop a golden horse.

The Guardian

"I'm honoured and humbled by the support I have had from locals during this and the previous four campaigns – and this particular campaign is going very well; I'm very happy with it," she says in a statement to Guardian Australia.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "honoured", consider the level of formality required by the context; it often conveys a sense of tradition and respect, making it suitable for formal events, ceremonies, and written communication where you want to express gratitude or acknowledge special recognition.

Common error

Avoid using "honoured" in casual conversations or informal writing; it can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday situations. Instead, opt for more relaxed alternatives like "happy", "pleased", or "grateful" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

"Honoured" primarily functions as an adjective or a past participle of the verb 'honour'. As an adjective, it describes someone or something that has received honor or respect. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Books

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "honoured" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term to express respect, gratitude, or recognition. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it commonly functions as an adjective or past participle, fitting well within formal to neutral registers. Predominantly found in news media and formal business contexts, it signifies high esteem or privilege. When using "honoured", be mindful of the context and level of formality, ensuring it aligns with the intended tone. While versatile, alternatives like ""grateful"" or ""privileged"" may be more appropriate in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respected

Highlights the admiration and high regard held for someone or something, directly related to the core meaning of "honoured".

privileged

Expresses a sense of special opportunity or favor, similar to being "honoured" but focusing more on the opportunity itself.

humbled

Indicates a feeling of modesty and gratitude, often used when receiving recognition, overlapping with the emotional aspect of being "honoured".

esteemed

Suggests a high level of respect and admiration, close in meaning to "honoured" but more formal.

valued

Conveys that something or someone is considered important and appreciated, relating to the appreciation aspect of being "honoured".

thankful

Shows gratitude for an opportunity or recognition, sharing the appreciative sentiment of being "honoured".

recognized

Emphasizes the acknowledgement and awareness of merit or achievement, sharing the public acknowledgment aspect of being "honoured".

delighted

Expresses great pleasure and satisfaction, often in response to an honor or invitation, capturing the positive emotion of being "honoured".

graced

Implies the presence of elegance or distinction, used when something adds prestige, similar to being "honoured" by its presence.

elated

Indicates a feeling of great happiness and joy, often accompanying the experience of being "honoured".

FAQs

How can I use "honoured" in a sentence?

You can use "honoured" to express feeling privileged or pleased to receive recognition or an invitation. For example, "I am honoured to be invited to speak at the conference" or "The city honoured the war veterans with a parade".

What's the difference between "honoured" and "grateful"?

"Honoured" suggests a formal recognition or high privilege, while "grateful" simply means thankful. You'd be "honoured" to receive an award, but "grateful" for a friend's help.

Which is correct: "I am honoured" or "I am honored"?

"Honoured" is the British English spelling, while "honored" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but the choice depends on the dialect you are using.

What can I say instead of "I am honoured"?

You can use alternatives like "I am "privileged"", "I am "humbled"", or "I am "grateful"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.