reward
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reward¹
- /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹəˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹəˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹiˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹɪˈwoːd/ Australia
- /ɹəˈwoːd/ Australia
- /ɹəˈwoːd/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)d
Where it comes from
From Middle English reward, rewarde, from Old French reward (“reward”) (compare Old French regard, whence modern French regard, and also English regard through Middle French), from rewarder (“to reward”) (compare Old French reguarder), from re- + warder (“to guard, keep”) (compare Old French guarder); the Anglo-Norman forms are derived from Old Northern French variants of Old French, ultimately of Germanic (Frankish) origin. Compare regard, warden, guard. See more below.
Mostly displaced Old English mēd, whence Modern English meed. Displaced Old English lēan and edlēan.
noun rewards
-
Something of value given in return for an act.
For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward.
Similar: payment, recompense, tithing, meed · Opposite: penalty, punishment
-
A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters.
Similar: bounty
- one's place in heaven; God's judgment in the afterlife; death And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with mee, to giue euery man according as his worke shall be.
-
The result of an action, whether good or bad.
Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?
Similar: consequence
Similar: acknowledgment, guerdon, meed, payback, recompense, reguerdon, remuneration, reward · Opposite: penalty
reward²
- /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹəˈwɔːd/ UK
- /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹəˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹiˈwɔɹd/ Canada, US
- /ɹɪˈwoːd/ Australia
- /ɹəˈwoːd/ Australia
- /ɹəˈwoːd/ New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)d
Where it comes from
From Middle English rewarden, from Anglo-Norman rewarder (“to reward”), from re- + warder (“to guard, keep”), from Old Northern French [Term?], from Frankish *wardōn (“to guard, keep”), from Proto-Germanic *wardōną (“to guard, defend”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to cover, shelter, defend, guard, shut”). Cognate with Old Saxon wardōn (“to guard, provide for, protect”), Old English weardian (“to guard”), Old High German wartēn (“to watch, keep, look after”). More at ward. Piecewise doublet of regard.
Displaced Old English lēanian. In this sense, displaced Old English ġieldan, whence Modern English yield.
verb rewards · rewarding · rewarded
- To give a reward to or for. Why are you rewarding the child for misbehaving?
- To be a recompense for. Decorations are meant to reward the most meritous acts and services.
- To give (something) as a reward. Thenne syr Marhaus departed and within two dayes his damoysel brought hym where as was a grete tornement that the lady de Vawse has cryed […] And there syr Marhaus dyd so nobly that he was renomed & had somtyme doune fourty knyghtes and soo the serklet of gold was rewarded hym
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: repay, pay back, reinforcement, wages, reinforce, honor, payoff, remember, honour, remunerate, compensation, recompense, compensate, gratuity, treat, pay-off
noun
Similar: acknowledgment, guerdon, meed, payback, recompense, reguerdon, remuneration, reward · Opposite: penalty
Translations
Every language
noun something of value given in return for an act
| Español | recompensa |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 상 sang, 보수 bosu, 보상 bosang, 사례금 saryegeum, 사례 sarye |
| 日本語 | 見返り mikaeri, 賞 shō, 褒賞 hōshō, 報酬 hōshū, 謝礼金 shareikin, 謝礼 sharei |
| 中文 | 報酬 /报酬 bàochóu, 獎勵 /奖励 jiǎnglì, 獎賞 /奖赏 jiǎngshǎng |
| हिन्दी | इनाम inām, पुरस्कार puraskār |
| Português | recompensa |
| Français | récompense, salaire |
| Deutsch | Belohnung, Lohn |
| Italiano | ricompensa |
| Ελληνικά | ανταμοιβή antamoiví |
| Română | răsplată, recompensă |
| Русский | награ́да nagráda, вознагражде́ние voznagraždénije, пре́мия prémija |
| Tiếng Việt | tặng thưởng, thưởng |
| العربية | مُكَافَأَة mukāfaʔa, ثَوَاب ṯawāb, جَائِزَة jāʔiza, إِنْعَام ʔinʕām |
| עברית | פְּרָס pras, שָׂכָר sakhár |
noun prize promised for a certain deed or catch
| हिन्दी | पुरस्कार puraskār |
|---|---|
| Português | recompensa |
| Deutsch | Belohnung |
| Italiano | taglia |
| Русский | вознагражде́ние voznagraždénije, награ́да nagráda |
| العربية | جَائِزَة jāʔiza |
| עברית | שָׂכָר sakhár, פְּרָס pras |
noun result of an action
| 日本語 | 報い mukui |
|---|---|
| Français | récompense |
| Deutsch | Lohn |
| Italiano | ricompensa |
| Русский | награ́да nagráda |
| العربية | جَزَاء jazāʔ |
| עברית | גְּמוּל gmul |
verb give a reward to
| Español | recompensar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 보상하다 bosanghada |
| 日本語 | 報いる mukuiru |
| 中文 | 獎勵 /奖励 jiǎnglì, 報答 /报答 bàodá |
| Português | recompensar |
| Français | récompenser |
| Deutsch | belohnen |
| Italiano | premiare, ricompensare |
| Ελληνικά | αμείβω ameívo |
| Русский | награжда́ть nagraždátʹ, награди́ть nagradítʹ, вознагражда́ть voznagraždátʹ, вознагради́ть voznagradítʹ, поощря́ть pooščrjátʹ, поощри́ть pooščrítʹ |
| العربية | مَنَحَ manaḥa |
| עברית | גָּמַל gamál |
Talk about this word "reward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/reward. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. reward. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/reward "reward." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/reward.Cite this
@misc{reward_2026,
title = {reward},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/reward},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
