Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense rewards, present participle rewarding, past tense, past participle rewarded
1. countable noun
A reward is something that you are given, for example because you have behaved well, worked hard, or provided a service to the community.
Never give children sweets, biscuits or cakes as a reward for being good.
He was given the job as a reward for running a successful leadership bid. [+ for]
2. countable noun
A reward is a sum of money offered to anyone who can give information about lost or stolen property or about someone who is wanted by the police.
The firm offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the robbers. [+ for]
3. verb
If you do something and are rewarded with a particular benefit, you receive that benefit as a result of doing that thing.
Make the extra effort to impress the buyer and you will be rewarded with a quickersale. [beVERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
4. countable noun [usually plural]
The rewards of something are the benefits that you receive as a result of doing or having thatthing.
The company is only just starting to reap the rewards of long-term investments. [+ of]
Potentially high financial rewards are attached to senior hospital posts.
5. verb
If you say that something rewards your attention or effort, you mean that it is worth spending time or effort on it.
[formal]
It is a difficult book to read, but it richly rewards the effort. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of reward
reward in British English
(rɪˈwɔːd)
noun
1.
something given or received in return for a deed or service rendered
2.
a sum of money offered, esp for help in finding a criminal or for the return of lost or stolen property
3.
profit or return
4.
something received in return for good or evil; deserts
5. psychology
any pleasant event that follows a response and therefore increases the likelihood of the response recurring in the future
verb
6. (transitive)
to give (something) to (someone), esp in gratitude for a service rendered; recompense
Derived forms
rewardable (reˈwardable)
adjective
rewarder (reˈwarder)
noun
rewardless (reˈwardless)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old Norman French rewarder to regard, from re- + warder to care for, guard, of Germanic origin; see ward
reward in American English
(rɪˈwɔrd)
noun
1.
something given in return for good or, sometimes, evil, or for service or merit
2.
money offered, as for the capture of a criminal, the return of something lost, etc.
3.
compensation; profit
4. Psychology
a return for correct response to a stimulus
verb transitive
5.
to give a reward to
6.
to give a reward for
7.
to serve as a reward to or for
SYNONYMY NOTE: reward usually refers to something given in recompense for a good deed or for merit [he received a reward for saving the child]; prize1 applies to something won in competition or, often, in a lottery or game of chance[she won first prize in the golf tournament]; award implies a decision by judges but does not connote overt competition [we received an award for the best news story of the year]; premium, in this connection, applies to a reward offered as an inducement to greater effortor production [to pay a premium for advance delivery]
Derived forms
rewardable (reˈwardable)
adjective
rewarder (reˈwarder)
noun
Word origin
ME < NormFr, for OFr regarde
COBUILD Collocations
reward
bring rewards
cash reward
deserve a reward
earn a reward
financial reward
just reward
offer a reward
potential reward
promise a reward
reap rewards
tangible reward
Examples of 'reward' in a sentence
reward
Trying to reassure your pet can make the problem worse as it rewards the fearful behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His philosophy is simple - put in the effort and the rewards will come.
The Sun (2016)
It offered a 50,000 reward for information leading to his acquittal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They will be given more freedom to give additional rewards and privileges to prisoners who make good progress in areas such as education and training.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
All that effort was rewarded.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
When it comes to work, being with people who truly want you to do well means more than the financial rewards.
The Sun (2016)
An European arrest warrant was issued for him and a €100,000 reward promised to anyone with information about his whereabouts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yes, I understand the pressure to win is so high when the financial rewards on offer are so great.
The Sun (2016)
There will be a reward for any information leading to arrests.
The Sun (2014)
There must be a clear link between good performance and reward.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They should get big rewards in return.
The Sun (2013)
Police officers who helped him were rewarded with cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The banking world seems to be paying great bonuses as rewards for failure.
The Sun (2012)
Those individuals are seeking sentence reduction or reward money.
Christianity Today (2000)
Why on earth should animals not be given the same reward for obeying biological commands?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The point here again is that the dog must learn that only acceptable behaviour is rewarded.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
But the upside is that you also directly benefit from the rewards of your actions.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The best of these will be published here and will be rewarded with book prizes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The financial rewards were far from lavish.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You will need stamina and energy but your efforts will be rewarded.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Fishing and kayak trips also make for rewarding days out.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Police appealed for witnesses and offered a reward for information.
The Sun (2009)
Previous research has shown that overeating foods that taste good alters brain reward systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is a reward for its return.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Hopefully the reward will help catch who did this.
The Sun (2011)
Should head teachers be rewarded with bonus payments?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The head of the opposition council yesterday held out the possibility of future rewards for those who offer early support.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
So why shouldn't they benefit from a few extra rewards?
The Sun (2013)
Read them all and you're rewarded with an extra nugget.
The Sun (2014)
Specifically, what kind of company rewards its employees with the prospect of more work in their holidays?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
reward
British English: reward /rɪˈwɔːd/ NOUN
A reward is something that you are given because you have behaved well, worked hard, or provided a service to the community.
As a reward for good behaviour, give your child a new toy.
American English: reward
Arabic: مُكَافَأَة
Brazilian Portuguese: recompensa
Chinese: 报酬
Croatian: nagrada
Czech: odměna
Danish: belønning
Dutch: beloning
European Spanish: recompensa
Finnish: palkkio
French: récompense
German: Entgelt
Greek: ανταμοιβή
Italian: ricompensa
Japanese: 報酬
Korean: 보상
Norwegian: belønning
Polish: nagroda
European Portuguese: recompensa
Romanian: recompensă
Russian: награда
Latin American Spanish: recompensa
Swedish: belöning
Thai: รางวัล
Turkish: ödül
Ukrainian: винагорода
Vietnamese: phần thưởng
British English: reward VERB
If you do something and are rewarded with a particular benefit, you receive that benefit as a result of doing that thing.
Make the extra effort to impress the buyer and you will be rewarded with a quicker sale.
American English: reward
Brazilian Portuguese: recompensar
Chinese: 回报
European Spanish: premiar
French: récompenser
German: belohnen
Italian: ricompensare
Japanese: 報われる
Korean: 보답을 받다
European Portuguese: recompensar
Latin American Spanish: premiar
All related terms of 'reward'
cash reward
A reward is something that you are given, for example because you have behaved well , worked hard, or provided a service to the community.
just reward
The rewards of something are the benefits that you receive as a result of doing or having that thing.
reward claim
a claim granted to a miner who discovered gold in a new area
reward effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
reward failure
Failure is a lack of success in doing or achieving something, especially in relation to a particular activity.
reward loyalty
Loyalty is the quality of staying firm in your friendship or support for someone or something.
reward patience
If you have patience , you are able to stay calm and not get annoyed , for example when something takes a long time, or when someone is not doing what you want them to do.
tangible reward
A reward is something that you are given, for example because you have behaved well, worked hard, or provided a service to the community.
earn a reward
A reward is something that you are given, for example because you have behaved well , worked hard, or provided a service to the community.
financial reward
The rewards of something are the benefits that you receive as a result of doing or having that thing.
offer a reward
A reward is a sum of money offered to anyone who can give information about lost or stolen property or about someone who is wanted by the police.
potential reward
The rewards of something are the benefits that you receive as a result of doing or having that thing.
reward behaviour
People's or animals' behaviour is the way that they behave . You can refer to a typical and repeated way of behaving as a behaviour .
deserve a reward
The rewards of something are the benefits that you receive as a result of doing or having that thing.
promise a reward
A reward is a sum of money offered to anyone who can give information about lost or stolen property or about someone who is wanted by the police .