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Reward vs Returns - What's the difference?

reward | returns | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between reward and returns

is that reward is something of value given in return for an act while returns is plural of lang=en.

As verbs the difference between reward and returns

is that reward is to give (something) as a reward while returns is third-person singular of return.

reward

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) reward, rewarde, from (etyl) variants of Old French, ultimately of (etyl) ((etyl)) origin. Compare ''regard'', ''warden'', ''guard . See more below. Displaced native (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • Something of value given in return for an act.
    • For catching the thief, you'll get a nice reward .
  • A prize promised for a certain deed or catch
    • ''The rewards for bringing in badly wanted criminals are printed on 'dead or alive' posters
  • The result of an action, whether good or bad.
    • Is this the reward I get for telling the truth: to be put in jail?
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2013 , date=January 22 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4) , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Christian Benteke's first-half goal was just reward for Villa's undoubted superiority but Bradford managed to survive without further damage until half-time, before scoring the goal that takes them to Wembley for the first time since 1996.}}
    Synonyms
    * (something of value given in return for an act) payment, recompense * (prize promised for a certain deed or catch) bounty * (result of an action) consequence
    Antonyms
    * punishment

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) rewarden, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To give (something) as a reward.
  • *:
  • *: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
  • *Bible, 1 Sam. xxiv. 17:
  • *:Thou hast rewarded' me good, whereas I have ' rewarded thee evil.
  • (label) To give a reward to or for.
  • :
  • (label) To recompense.
  • :
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 2, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
    • , title= Bulgaria 0-3 England , passage=The Italian opted for Bolton's Cahill alongside captain John Terry - and his decision was rewarded with a goal after only 13 minutes. Bulgaria gave a hint of defensive frailties to come when they failed to clear Young's corner, and when Gareth Barry found Cahill in the box he applied the finish past Nikolay Mihaylov.}}
    Derived terms
    * rewardable * rewarder * rewarding * unrewarded
    Related terms
    * award

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    returns

    English

    Noun

    (head)
  • (pluralonly) Merchandise returned to a retailer or wholesaler by a purchaser.
  • (pluralonly) Unsold merchandise returned to the supplier.
  • * {{quote-book, year=2002
    • , author=Irina Dunn , title=The writer's guide , chapter= citation , isbn= , page=129 , passage=The number of unsold books that booksellers return to publishers (called the rate of returns ) has been averaging between 25 per cent and 35 per cent.}}

    Verb

    (head)
  • (return)

    • Anagrams

    * turners

    See also

    * many happy returns