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reward

n. · v.
US //ɹiˈwɔɹd// UK //ɹɪwˈɔːd// re·ward
  1. 1 benefit for effort (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    something of value you get because you did something good or worked hard.

    a benefit, such as money or recognition, bestowed in return for merit, service, or achievement.

    Example

    The company gave her a small bonus as a reward for her hard work.

    Example

    The sense of personal satisfaction was a far greater reward for the volunteers than any formal certificate of appreciation could have been.
  2. 2 money for finding something (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    money offered to anyone who helps find a lost person or item.

    a sum of money offered by an authority or individual for help in a specific matter, such as capturing a criminal or recovering lost property.

    Example

    There is a five-hundred-dollar reward for the return of the missing cat.

    Example

    The police department offered a substantial reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects involved in the robbery.
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  1. 3 to give a prize (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to give someone something good because they have done something helpful or successful.

    to bestow a recompense or prize upon someone in recognition of their actions or qualities.

    Example

    The school rewarded the students with a trip to the zoo for their good behaviour.

    Example

    The board of directors voted to reward the CEO with a significant stock option package following the company's record-breaking quarterly profits.

    Usage

    This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

Word family

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