Pay tribute to means publicly show respect and gratitude: in her speech she paid tribute to the whole team. People honour both the living and the dead this way, at a ceremony, in a film, at an exhibition. A tribute band plays the songs of a famous group in its honour.
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pay tribute to someone/something; pay a moving tribute to someone
- At the ceremony, the director paid tribute to the volunteers who restored the hall.
- The exhibition pays tribute to the city's early photographers.
- Her farewell speech paid a warm tribute to the entire teaching team.
What changed
First versionThe mayor paid tribute for the rescue team.
RevisionThe mayor paid tribute to the rescue team.
We thank someone for something, so for feels natural, as in thank for. But a tribute is paid to someone, and to introduces the person: paid tribute to the rescue team. The reason can follow: paid tribute to the team for their courage.
Pay your respects means honour someone, often by visiting, usually at a funeral or a memorial. Pay tribute means recognise someone's achievements, usually in words: a speech, an article, a film. Thank is simply saying thanks, with no ceremony.
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The documentary pays tribute ___ an overlooked artist.
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to — The person or thing being honoured comes after to: pay tribute to an artist. For is added later, when you name the achievement.
Name a person or team whose achievements were honoured in a speech, a film or at a celebration. Use pay tribute to.
The school concert paid tribute to the music teacher who had built the orchestra.
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