Library / English Dictionary

REWARD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An act performed to strengthen approved behavior

Synonyms:

reinforcement; reward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("reward" is a kind of...):

approval; approving; blessing (the formal act of approving)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reward"):

carrot (promise of reward as in)

Derivation:

reward (strengthen and support with rewards)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Benefit resulting from some event or action

Example:

reaping the rewards of generosity

Synonyms:

advantage; reward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("reward" is a kind of...):

benefit; welfare (something that aids or promotes well-being)

Antonym:

penalty (the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The offer of money for helping to find a criminal or for returning lost property

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("reward" is a kind of...):

offer; offering (something offered (as a proposal or bid))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reward"):

price (a monetary reward for helping to catch a criminal)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

Example:

virtue is its own reward

Synonyms:

payoff; reward; wages

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("reward" is a kind of...):

aftermath; consequence (the outcome of an event especially as relative to an individual)

Derivation:

reward (act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions)

reward (bestow honor or rewards upon)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Payment made in return for a service rendered

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("reward" is a kind of...):

payment (a sum of money paid or a claim discharged)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "reward"):

bounty; premium (payment or reward (especially from a government) for acts such as catching criminals or killing predatory animals or enlisting in the military)

honorarium (a fee paid for a nominally free service)

blood money (a reward for information about a murderer)

guerdon (a reward or payment)

meed (a fitting reward)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Strengthen and support with rewards

Example:

Let's reinforce good behavior

Synonyms:

reinforce; reward

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "reward" is one way to...):

instruct; learn; teach (impart skills or knowledge to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

reward (an act performed to strengthen approved behavior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act or give recompense in recognition of someone's behavior or actions

Synonyms:

pay back; repay; reward

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "reward" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Derivation:

reward (a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bestow honor or rewards upon

Example:

The scout was rewarded for courageous action

Synonyms:

honor; honour; reward

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "reward" is one way to...):

recognise; recognize (show approval or appreciation of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reward"):

drink; pledge; salute; toast; wassail (propose a toast to)

dignify; ennoble (confer dignity or honor upon)

decorate (award a mark of honor, such as a medal, to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reward (a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Whereas responses in another brain area called the ventral striatum have been linked to reward processes, the dorsal striatum has been implicated in planning, motor (movement) processing, and habit learning.

(Study in Teens Shows Brain Responses to Rewards Linked to Pain Sensitivity, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Marianne sighed out her similar apprehension; and Elinor's heart wrung for the feelings of Edward, while braving his mother's threats, for a woman who could not reward him.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

My trifling occupations take up my time and amuse me, and I am rewarded for any exertions by seeing none but happy, kind faces around me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

And there is a little reward, I fancy.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a brave struggle; and was, I think and believe, not without its reward.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience generally is.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

And at last his patience was rewarded.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

He could say no more; and with the hope of Hartfield to reward him, returned with Mrs. Weston to Mrs. Bates's door.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The fact is, your Grace, said he, that my colleague, Dr. Watson, and myself had an assurance from Dr. Huxtable that a reward had been offered in this case.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You have space to work upon there, and grounds that will well reward you.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)