reward
n. C / Un. something good that you get because you have worked hard or done something well. It can be money, a gift, or just a good feeling.
n. a benefit, prize, or compensation given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement. Often used in psychological contexts to describe a stimulus that reinforces a specific behavior.
The company gives a cash reward for the best idea.
After months of training for the marathon, crossing the finish line was the ultimate reward for her dedication.
While financial incentives are common, many employees find that professional autonomy and public recognition serve as more effective long-term rewards for high-level performance.
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.
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.
Countable when referring to a specific prize or payment; uncountable when referring to the general concept of being compensated for effort.
the reward of my hard workthe reward for my hard workThe noun reward is typically followed by the preposition 'for' when identifying the action that earned it.