reward

[ ri-wawrd ]

noun

1. a sum of money offered for the detection or capture of a criminal, the recovery of lost or stolen property, etc.
2. something given or received in return or recompense for service, merit, hardship, etc.

   Synonyms: bonus, premium, bounty, requital, remuneration, pay, desert

verb (used with object)

1. to recompense or requite (a person or animal) for service, merit, achievement, etc.

   Synonyms: remunerate, pay, compensate

2. to make return for or requite (service, merit, etc.); recompense.

reward

/ 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. psychol any pleasant event that follows a response and therefore increases the likelihood of the response recurring in the future

verb

1. tr to give (something) to (someone), esp in gratitude for a service rendered; recompense

Derived Forms

• reˈwardable, adjective
• reˈwarder, noun
• reˈwardless, adjective

Other Words From

• re·warda·ble adjective
• re·warda·ble·ness noun
• re·warda·bly adverb
• re·warder noun
• re·wardless adjective
• misre·ward verb (used with object)
• over·re·ward verb
• super·re·ward verb (used with object) noun
• unre·warda·ble adjective
• unre·warded adjective
• well-re·warded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reward¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (verb) rewarden originally, “to regard,” from Old North French rewarder “to look at,” variant of Old French reguarder; regard

Word History and Origins

Origin of reward¹

C14: from Old Norman French rewarder to regard, from re- + warder to care for, guard, of Germanic origin; see ward

Synonym Study

Reward, prize, recompense imply something given in return for good. A reward is something given or done in return for good (or, more rarely, evil) received; it may refer to something abstract or concrete: a $50 reward; Virtue is its own reward. Prize refers to something concrete offered as a reward of merit, or to be contested for and given to the winner: to win a prize for an essay. A recompense is something given or done, whether as reward or punishment, for acts performed, services rendered, etc.; or it may be something given in compensation for loss or injury suffered, etc.: Renown was his principal recompense for years of hard work.

Example Sentences

For instance, Best Buy has over 40 million members in its customer loyalty program, Reward Zone.

From The Daily Beast

Their reward: what is possibly the most infuriating series finale of the new millennium.

From The Daily Beast

Still images of each will be released today and a reward will be posted for information leading to their arrest.

From The Daily Beast

The $50,000 reward means a weapon was brandished to either the customers or the employees.

From The Daily Beast

When it comes to setting up a reward, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service considers “$50,000 commonplace.”

From The Daily Beast

History gives them scant notice, and the Federal government has failed to reward them as they deserve.

From Project Gutenberg

On the establishment of the Empire Berthier, like many another, received the reward for his faithfulness to Napoleon.

From Project Gutenberg

Each has his "natural liberty," and each in his degree, great or small, receives his allotted reward.

From Project Gutenberg

And a bitter reflection was it, that reward still came to him—still a fair return for time and strength expended.

From Project Gutenberg

When an article is written, the financial reward (and we may as well live as not) is a matter of certainty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compensate
• honor
• repay
• take care of