WordWeb Online

1. Any admirable quality or attribute
   "work of great merit";
   - virtue
    
2. The quality of being deserving (e.g., deserving assistance)
   "there were many children whose merit he recognized and rewarded";
   - deservingness, meritoriousness
    
3. The quality that renders something desirable, valuable or useful
   "the Shakespearean Shylock is of dubious merit in the modern world";
   - worth, value
    
4. A good pass grade at a specified level about the lowest pass mark

1. Be worthy of or entitled to, e.g. because of hard work or skills demonstrated
   "You merit a promotion after all the hard work you have done";
   - deserve

Derived forms: merits, meriting, merited

Type of: be, quality, worthiness

Antonym: demerit

Encyclopedia: Merit, Texas