rewarding

American  

[ri-wawr-ding] / rɪˈwɔr dɪŋ /

adjective

1. affording satisfaction, valuable experience, or the like; worthwhile.

2. affording financial or material gain; profitable.

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rewarding British  

/ rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ /

adjective

1. giving personal satisfaction; gratifying

   caring for the elderly is rewarding

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Other Word Forms

• quasi-rewarding adjective
• rewardingly adverb
• unrewarding adjective

Etymology

Origin of rewarding

First recorded in 1690–1700; reward + -ing ²

Explanation

Things that satisfy you or make you happy are rewarding. Even if you love to learn, the most rewarding part of going to school for many of us is making good friends. The word reward is obvious when you look at the adjective rewarding, and rewarding things do give you a kind of reward. Rather than cash for finding a neighbor's lost cat, though, the reward you get from something rewarding is pleasure or satisfaction. Watching a great movie is rewarding, and so is doing something kind for another person. You might even get lucky and have a rewarding career, or even a rewarding life.

Example Sentences

But workers may feel uneasy that investors are mostly rewarding large, public companies for pulling the layoff lever.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Just taking notes of how I want to incorporate certain things in my show or how I want to move, or the things I might need, it’s all been very rewarding.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

We want to use our limited spending money and free time in ways that feel more rewarding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The result is immediate, vivid, and complete in its own way, asking for minutes instead of hours—and rewarding you anyway.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

Mr. Stoker thinks he’s rewarding us by not giving homework on Fridays.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• advantageous
• fruitful
• gratifying
• productive
• profitable
• satisfying
• valuable
• worthwhile