reward

reward — noun

1. Money, a gift, or another form of positive return that you get after doing somet

1.nounB1
Definition

Money, a gift, or another form of positive return that you get after doing something well, putting in a lot of effort, or behaving in a good way.

Example

The company offered Brooke a cash reward for finishing the project two weeks early.

collocation: cash reward

For every ten drinks you buy, the cafe gives you one free as a reward.

pattern: X as a reward

Common collocations
  • cash reward
  • financial reward
  • as a reward
  • in reward for
  • well-earned reward
  • deserved reward
Synonyms
  • prize

    Usually given for winning a competition, not for ongoing effort or service.

  • bonus

    Extra payment on top of regular salary, usually for meeting targets at work.

  • award

    More formal; often a certificate, trophy, or public recognition rather than money.

Antonyms
  • penalty

    Something unpleasant given as punishment for doing something wrong.

  • fine

    A sum of money paid as punishment for breaking a rule.

Usage Note

Can be both countable (a reward, two rewards) and uncountable (as a reward, in reward for). The uncountable use is more abstract.

Common Mistakes

I got a price for winning the race.
I got a prize / a reward for winning the race.
'price' means the cost of something; 'reward' means something you receive for achievement.
The boss gave him reward for his hard work.
The boss gave him a reward for his hard work.
In countable sense, use 'a reward' or 'the reward'.

2. A sum of money offered to anyone who provides information that leads to catching

2.nounB1
Definition

A sum of money offered to anyone who provides information that leads to catching a criminal or that helps recover lost or stolen items.

Example

The police announced a reward of ten thousand dollars for any information about the bank robbery.

collocation: announce a reward

Nadia called the number on the reward poster after spotting the stolen bicycle in a neighbor's yard.

collocation: reward poster

Common collocations
  • offer a reward
  • announce a reward
  • claim a reward
  • put up a reward
  • reward money
  • reward poster
Synonyms
  • bounty

    More dramatic; historically used for capturing criminals or enemies. Less common in everyday speech.

Usage Note

Almost always used with a specific sum of money and often announced publicly through posters or news. The person who claims the reward is usually anonymous to protect their safety.

3. A pleasant physical or emotional feeling that your nervous system creates when s

3.nounB2
Definition

A pleasant physical or emotional feeling that your nervous system creates when something good happens, encouraging you to do the same thing again.

Example

After her morning run, Eve felt the familiar chemical reward of endorphins lifting her mood.

collocation: chemical reward

The brain's reward system releases dopamine when you eat something sweet or hear music you enjoy.

collocation: reward system

Common collocations
  • reward system
  • chemical reward
  • emotional reward
  • brain's reward pathway
Synonyms
  • satisfaction

    Broader; can come from completing a task without involving the brain's chemical system.

  • pleasure

    More general; does not carry the implication of reinforcing future behavior.

Antonyms
  • pain

    The unpleasant opposite that the brain uses to discourage certain behaviors.

Usage Note

Often used in the context of neuroscience or psychology, but also in everyday language to describe emotional satisfaction. The plural 'rewards' is frequent when describing multiple sources of pleasure.

4. In behavioral science, an item or event (such as food, praise, or a token) that

4.nounC1
Definition

In behavioral science, an item or event (such as food, praise, or a token) that is given after a correct action in order to make the subject more likely to repeat that action.

Example

In the experiment, the rat received a food reward each time it pressed the correct lever.

collocation: food reward

Dog trainers use a small treat as a reward to teach new commands.

pattern: X as a reward

Common collocations
  • food reward
  • use X as a reward
  • reward-based training
  • immediate reward
Synonyms
  • reinforcement

    The broader technical term in psychology; reward is one type of positive reinforcement.

  • incentive

    Given before the action to motivate it, while a reward is given after.

Antonyms
  • punishment

    An unpleasant consequence given to reduce an unwanted behavior.

Usage Note

Technical term in operant conditioning. Distinguish from noun sense 1: this sense is about deliberately using a stimulus to shape behavior, not about naturally receiving something for good work. The reward here is chosen by the trainer or experimenter, not earned by the subject.

Common Mistakes

They used candies as a reward for the kids who behaved well and also for those who didn't.
Rewards are only given after the correct behavior, not randomly.
A reward must follow the specific action you want to encourage.
Idioms

virtue is its own reward

idiom

A saying meaning that doing the right thing should make you feel good inside, and you should not expect money or praise for it.

When Zuri's elderly neighbor thanked her for the help, she smiled and said, "Virtue is its own reward."

reward — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In the sense of something given for good work or effort, 'reward' is the most general word — it can be money, a gift, or even an abstract feeling. A 'prize' is specifically linked to winning a competition or game, so you win a prize but earn a reward. 'Bonus' is purely financial and is added to regular wages when a worker or team meets a target; it is a business term. 'Award' is more formal and often involves public recognition — a certificate, medal, or trophy given at a ceremony. 'Compensation' is broader and usually refers to payment for work done or for loss suffered, without the positive connotation of recognition. For everyday use: tell a child 'you deserve a reward for cleaning your room,' not 'you deserve compensation.' At work, you might say 'the team got a bonus,' while an artist might say 'winning that prize was a huge reward for years of effort.'

prize ↗bonus ↗award ↗compensation ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • richly
  • generously
  • handsomely
  • well
  • justly
  • monetarily

Phrases

  • in reward for
  • as a reward for
  • well-earned reward
  • deserved reward
  • just reward

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'reward' entered English from Old French 'rewarder', which originally meant 'to regard, look at, or consider'. In medieval French, looking favorably on someone became connected to giving them a gift, so the meaning shifted from 'regard' to 'recompense'. The modern spelling settled in the 1500s, and both the noun and verb uses have been common in English since then. The core idea — giving something in return — has remained stable for over five centuries.