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Meaning & use

rewarding

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ/
US/rɪˈwɔːrdɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableapproving

    Giving you a deep sense of satisfaction or that your effort was worth it.

    Grammar: Can describe activities or jobs: a rewarding career.

    Patterns

    • a rewarding experience
    • find something rewarding

    Teaching her niece to swim was truly rewarding.

    He found volunteering at the shelter rewarding.

    Raising a child is hard but rewarding.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Bringing good pay or other material benefit.

    Grammar: Used about work or investments: financially rewarding.

    Patterns

    • financially rewarding

    The job is financially rewarding but demanding.

    A more rewarding offer arrived the next week.

Word forms

comparativemore rewarding
superlativemost rewarding

Common combinations

rewarding experience
Living abroad was a rewarding experience.
rewarding career
Nursing can be a rewarding career.
financially rewarding
The contract was financially rewarding.
personally rewarding
The project was personally rewarding.
deeply rewarding
The work is deeply rewarding.

Synonyms and how they differ

fulfilling
Fulfilling stresses a feeling of purpose and completeness, while rewarding stresses a return for effort.
satisfying
Satisfying is gentler and fits small pleasures too.
gratifying
Gratifying describes pleasing results that match what you wanted, and is more formal.
worthwhile
Worthwhile just says something is worth the time, without suggesting emotional satisfaction.

Opposites

unrewardingthanklesspointless

Word family

reward noun
something given for good work
reward verb
to give something in return for effort
rewarded adjective
given a reward
unrewarding adjective
not giving satisfaction

Commonly confused: rewarding or rewarded?

rewarding vs rewarded

Rewarded describes someone who has been given a reward; rewarding describes the activity that gives satisfaction.

Practice

Mentoring young players is tiring, but she finds it ____ because she sees them improve.

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