<p><strong>noun</strong></p><ul><li>claim to respect and praise; excellence; worth</li><li>something that deserves or justifies a reward or commendation; a commendable quality, act, etc.: The book's only merit is its sincerity.</li><li>the inherent rights and wrongs of a matter, as a lawsuit, unobscured by procedural details, technicalities, personal feelings, etc.: The case will be decided on its merits alone.</li><li>the state or fact of deserving; desert: to treat people according to their merits.</li><li>worthiness of spiritual reward, acquired by righteous acts made under the influence of grace.</li><li>something that is deserved, whether good or bad.</li></ul><p><strong>verb</strong></p><ul><li>to be worthy of; deserve.</li><li>to acquire merit.</li></ul><p><strong>adjective</strong></p><ul><li>based on merit: a merit raise of $25 a week.</li></ul>