reward

1 of 2

verb

re·​ward ri-ˈwȯrd How to pronounce reward (audio)
rewarded; rewarding; rewards
Synonyms of reward

transitive verb

1
: to give a reward to or for
rewarded the students with extra time at recess
2
: recompense
rewarded the extra work with a cash bonus
rewardable
ri-ˈwȯr-də-bəl How to pronounce reward (audio)
adjective
rewarder noun

reward

2 of 2

noun

1
: something that is given in return for good or evil done or received or that is offered or given for some service or attainment
The police offered a reward for his capture.
That lying crook got his just rewards.
Members get a discount in reward for getting friends to subscribe.
2
: a stimulus (such as food) that is administered to an organism and serves to reinforce a desired response

Synonyms of reward

Relevance

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of reward in a Sentence

Verb She rewarded herself by buying a new pair of shoes. the firefighters were rewarded by the city for their heroic actions Noun The contest offered a cash reward to the first person who could breed a blue rose. Hard work brings its own rewards. Members will receive a discount in reward for getting friends or family to join.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Versatility is rewarded in this cornerback room, and being able to play on the outside is something all of these CBs have NFL experience doing. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 Slayton had two 100-plus yard games that season with Daniel Jones as his quarterback, and suddenly, a Giants organization that wasn’t often taking care of its own was rewarding Slayton with a three-year, $36 million extension. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
This was once expected to be Marbrey’s first year at the helm as Lake Mary’s starting quarterback, a reward for waiting in the wings behind standout QB Noah Grubbs, who is now suiting up for Notre Dame. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 The United Bodegas of America is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the shooter's arrest and conviction. — Aziza Shuler, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reward

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French regarder, rewarder to look back at, regard, care for, recompense — more at regard entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reward was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing reward

Rhymes for reward

See All Rhymes for reward

Browse Nearby Words

rewaken
reward
rewardable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reward.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reward. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

reward

1 of 2 verb
re·​ward ri-ˈwȯrd How to pronounce reward (audio)
: to give a reward to or for
rewarder noun

reward

2 of 2 noun
1
: something (as money) given or offered in return for a service (as the return of something lost)
2
: a stimulus (as food) that is given to an organism after a correct or desired way of behaving and that makes the behavior more probable in the future

Medical Definition

reward

1 of 2 transitive verb
re·​ward ri-ˈwȯ(ə)rd How to pronounce reward (audio)
: to give a reward to or for

reward

2 of 2 noun
: a stimulus (as food) that serves to reinforce a desired response
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All