reward
She received a $100 reward for finding the lost dog.
The reward was a monetary payment given as recognition for her action.
A thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement.
The company offers a reward to employees who exceed sales targets.
A financial incentive is provided for exceptional performance.
Often used in professional, academic, or personal contexts to motivate behavior.
To give something to someone in recognition of their services, effort, or achievement.
The teacher rewarded the students with extra recess time for their hard work.
The students were given a privilege as a result of their efforts.
Can be used as a verb in both active and passive constructions.
In psychology, a stimulus that increases the probability of a desired response.
In the experiment, food pellets served as a reward for the rats pressing the lever.
The food pellets acted as positive reinforcement to encourage the behavior.
Common in behavioral studies and training programs.
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Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use 'reward' as a verb carefully
While grammatically correct, overusing 'reward' as a verb can sound unnatural in casual conversation. Prefer 'give' or 'offer' in informal contexts (e.g., 'The teacher gave the students stickers' instead of 'The teacher rewarded the students with stickers').
Gold Rule
Noun vs. Verb
Use 'reward' as a noun when referring to the thing given (e.g., 'a cash reward'). Use it as a verb when describing the act of giving recognition (e.g., 'The company rewards loyalty').
Word Origin
Middle English: from Old North French *rewarder* (noun), from re- (expressing intensive force) + warder 'guard, watch', influenced by rewarder 'he who rewards' (from Old French regarder 'look at, regard'). The verb sense developed later, influenced by the noun.
Usage Notes
The noun is more common in everyday language, while the verb is often used in formal or motivational contexts. Avoid overusing 'reward' as a verb in casual speech; 'give' or 'offer' may sound more natural.