reap
Americanverb
-
to cut or harvest (a crop), esp corn, from (a field or tract of land)
-
(tr) to gain or get (something) as a reward for or result of some action or enterprise
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reap
before 900; Middle English repen, Old English repan, riopan; cognate with Middle Low German repen to ripple (flax); akin to ripe
Explanation
When you reap something, you enjoy the rewards of your efforts. When your great audition gets you cast in your dream role, you reap the benefits of all that rehearsing you did. Reap can also describe the act of harvesting crops. The farmer will then sell the crop, reaping a profit. Here, reap means the same as gain. You may have heard the expression "what you reap is what you sow," which comes from the New Testament and can apply to farming and everything else — if, for example, you are patient with other people, they in turn will be patient with you.
Vocabulary lists containing reap
Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Down on the Farm
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "R"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, the endorsements from the council’s progressive members could reap benefits come election day, Yaroslavsky said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026
"It's not a brand, it's about the fighters. I want them to be able to reap the rewards of their labour."
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Irwin also sees opportunities in South Africa as the economy begins to reap rewards from structural changes in recent years, with grocer Shoprite among his holdings.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
Corning is among the latest companies to reap a windfall from the ripple effects of the data center build-out.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
Yes, the plowing would still go on and there’d be a crop, someone to reap it and mill it, others to eat it, and not everyone would be dead...
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
