# reward

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɪˈwɔːd/ · frequency rank #4,116

## Definitions
1. Something of value given in return for an act.
2. A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
3. The result of an action, whether good or bad.

## Etymology
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.

## Easily confused with
- **rewind** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reward-vs-rewind)
- **rework** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reward-vs-rework)
- **rewarded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reward-vs-rewarded)
- **read** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/read-vs-reward)
- **rear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rear-vs-reward)
- **rebar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rebar-vs-reward)
- **record** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/record-vs-reward)
- **regard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regard-vs-reward)
- **remark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remark-vs-reward)
- **retard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-reward)
- **repaid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repaid-vs-reward)
- **reared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reared-vs-reward)
- **remand** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remand-vs-reward)
- **Renard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/renard-vs-reward)
- **regards** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regards-vs-reward)
- **retards** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retards-vs-reward)

## Common misspellings (9)
`erward`, `reawrd`, `rewadr`, `rewardd`, `rewarrd`, `rewrad`, `rewward`, `rreward`, `rweard`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reward