• (RP) IPA: /ɹɪˈwɔːd/, /ɹəˈwɔːd/
• (America) IPA: /ɹɪˈwɔɹd/, /ɹəˈwɔɹd/, /ɹiˈwɔɹd/
• (obsolete) IPA: /ɹɪˈwɑː(ɹ)d/

From Middle English reward, rewarde, from Old French 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 fro-nor - variants of Old French, ultimately of Germanic - (Frankish -) origin.

Mostly displaced Old English mēd, whence Modern English meed. Displaced Old English lēan and edlēan.

reward (plural rewards)

1. Something of value given in return for an act.

   Synonyms: payment, recompense, tithing, meed

   Antonyms: punishment

   For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward.

2. A prize promised for a certain deed or catch

   Synonyms: bounty

   The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters.

3. The result of an action, whether good or bad.

   Synonyms: consequence

   Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?

• French: récompense, salaire
• German: Belohnung, Lohn
• Italian: ricompensa
• Portuguese: recompensa
• Russian: награ́да
• Spanish: recompensa

• German: Belohnung
• Italian: taglia
• Portuguese: recompensa
• Russian: вознагражде́ние

• French: récompense
• German: Lohn
• Italian: ricompensa
• Russian: награ́да

From Middle English rewarden, from Anglo-Norman rewarder, from re- + warder ("to guard, keep"), from fro-nor, from Frankish *wardēn, from Proto-Germanic *wardōną, from Proto-Indo-European *wer-.

Displaced Old English lēanian. In this sense, displaced Old English ġieldan, whence Modern English yield.

reward (rewards, present participle rewarding; simple past and past participle rewarded)

1. (transitive) To give a reward to or for.

   Why are you rewarding the child for misbehaving?

   Why are you rewarding that bad behaviour?

2. (transitive) To recompense.

   Decorations are meant to reward the most meritous acts and services.

3. (obsolete, transitive) To give (something) as a reward.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “[https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/MaloryWks2/1:6.25?rgn=div2;view=fulltext xxvj]”, in Le Morte Darthur, book IV:

     Thenne syr Marhaus departed and within two dayes his damoysel brought hym where as was a grete tornement that the lady de Vawse has cryed
     […]
     And there syr Marhaus dyd so nobly that he was renomed
     & had somtyme doune fourty knyghtes
     and soo the serklet of gold was rewarded hym

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, 1 Samuel 24:17 ↗:

     Thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

• award

• French: récompenser
• German: belohnen
• Italian: premiare, ricompensare
• Portuguese: recompensar
• Russian: награжда́ть
• Spanish: recompensar