Prestige

n.capable, joyfulformal

What it means

High respect and social standing attached to recognized achievement, quality, or position.

Reach for it when naming public regard while separating status from actual merit

The prize brought prestige to a theater that had served the town for fifty years.

playful
cachet
when fashionable appeal raises perceived status
not when Cachet can be superficial and is unsuitable for serious earned respect.
warm
esteem
when sincere respect from others is the heart of the idea
not when Esteem can remain private and lacks prestige's social rank.
warm
honor
when recognition carries moral respect
not when Honor may be conferred for one act and does not imply continuing prestige.
professional
reputation
when accumulated public judgment is the relevant asset
not when A reputation can be bad, disputed, or based on familiarity.
professional
status
when relative social or institutional position is central
not when Status can come from wealth or office without earned respect.
formal
distinction
when excellence or an honor sets someone apart
not when Distinction can describe difference without broad social prestige.
formal
standing
when a person or institution's reputation within a group matters
not when Standing may be neutral or poor and needs a qualifier.
literary
renown
when widespread fame rests on achievement
not when Renown concerns being known, while prestige concerns esteem.

international prestige
The discovery gave the small institute international prestige.
gain prestige
The program began to gain prestige after publishing its outcomes openly.
source of prestige
The restored observatory became a source of prestige for the region.
prestige associated
The prestige associated with the prize did not guarantee a suitable placement.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.