Reap
verb Base: reap | Past: reaped | Past Participle: reaped | -ing: reaping | 3rd person: reaps
Definition
1. To get something good as a result of your actions or effort.
2. To cut and collect a grain crop.
2. To cut and collect a grain crop.
Context Alive
For three years, she studied every single evening after work. She gave up weekends, holidays, and time with friends. Now, with her promotion and a doubled salary, she’s finally reaping the rewards of all that sacrifice. Every late night was worth it.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 To Get Something Good as a Result of Your Effort (Verb) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about gaining rewards, benefits, or results from something you’ve worked for. Imagine someone who spent years building a small online business — working nights, reinvesting every penny. Now the company is thriving and they’re reaping the profits. This is reaping — enjoying the results of your hard work. You might hear “she’s reaping the benefits of regular exercise” or “the country is finally reaping the rewards of its investment in education.” Or think about a student who studied hard all year and is now reaping the results with top grades. The word suggests you earned what you’re getting — it didn’t come for free. ✏️ The famous saying “you reap what you sow” means your results — good or bad — depend on what effort you put in.
Vivid ExampleThe small town invested heavily in tourism ten years ago. Today, local businesses are reaping the benefits as thousands of visitors arrive every summer. Hotels are fully booked, restaurants are thriving, and the local economy has never been stronger.
2 To Cut and Collect a Grain Crop (Verb) Common ▼
This meaning is about the physical act of harvesting crops from a field. Imagine a golden wheat field stretching to the horizon on a warm autumn morning. Farmers move through the rows, reaping the grain before the weather turns. This is reaping in its original sense — cutting and gathering crops. You might read “the workers were out reaping the harvest” or “they reaped the corn by hand before machines existed.” Or picture an old painting showing farmers reaping under the summer sun with simple hand tools. The word carries a sense of seasonal work, tradition, and honest labour. ✏️ Today, machines do most reaping, so this meaning appears more in literature, history, and figurative expressions than in everyday conversation.
Vivid ExampleEvery September, the whole family would head out to the fields together. They spent long days reaping the wheat under the hot sun. By evening, their arms ached, but the barn was full and the harvest was safely stored for winter.
Examples from the Street
“She worked incredibly hard for years and now she’s reaping the rewards.”
She put in enormous effort over a long period and is now enjoying the benefits
“If you don’t invest in your health now, you’ll reap the consequences later.”
If you don’t look after your body now, you’ll suffer the negative effects eventually
“You reap what you sow — that’s just how life works.”
Your actions have consequences — good or bad, you get back what you put in
Common Patterns
reap the rewards/benefits (of something) → enjoy the positive results of hard work or investment
reap the consequences → suffer the negative results of actions or decisions
reap profits/gains → make money or advantages from something
reap the fruits of (something) → enjoy the results of long effort (slightly literary)
reap what you sow → get back exactly what your actions deserve — good or bad
reap huge/enormous/massive rewards → gain very large benefits
reap the long-term benefits → enjoy positive results over an extended period
begin/start to reap → begin seeing results after a period of effort
continue to reap → keep enjoying benefits over time
those who (do something) will reap → people who take certain actions will eventually see results
reap a harvest/crop → cut and gather crops from a field
reap the wheat/corn/grain → harvest a specific crop
the Grim Reaper → the personification of death, shown carrying a scythe
Collocations
3 collocationsreap the benefits
enjoy the rewards of earlier effort
reap the rewards
receive positive results from your work
reap what you sow
experience the consequences of your actions
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
After years of saving carefully, they’re finally reaping the rewards with a comfortable retirement
After a long period of putting money aside responsibly, they’re now enjoying the benefits through a relaxed life after work.
2
Companies that invest in employee wellbeing reap huge benefits in productivity and loyalty
Businesses that spend money on looking after their staff see enormous gains in output and commitment.
3
He cheated his way through the deal, and now he’s reaping the consequences
He was dishonest throughout the agreement, and now he’s suffering the negative results of his actions.
4
The country is only just beginning to reap the benefits of the reforms introduced a decade ago
The nation is only now starting to see the positive effects of the changes that were brought in ten years back.
5
You reap what you sow — if you treat people badly, don’t expect kindness in return
Your actions come back to you — if you behave poorly towards others, don’t be surprised when they do the same.
6
Early adopters of the technology reaped massive profits before the market became saturated
People who invested in the innovation early on made enormous amounts of money before too many competitors entered.
7
Students who put in consistent effort throughout the year reap the rewards at exam time
Pupils who work steadily over the whole academic period see the positive results when the tests arrive.
8
The charity continues to reap the goodwill generated by its founder’s reputation
The non-profit organisation keeps benefiting from the positive public feeling created by its creator’s standing.
9
She ignored every warning and is now reaping what she sowed
She paid no attention to any of the cautions and is now facing the results of her own choices.
10
Those who invest in learning new skills today will reap the advantages for years to come
People who commit time to developing fresh abilities now will enjoy the positive outcomes far into the future.
Learner Examples
★
Students who practise speaking English every day — even for just ten minutes — reap the rewards much faster than those who only study before exams
Pupils who use the language daily — even for a short time — see the positive results far sooner than those who only revise when tests are approaching.
★
Teachers who invest time in building trust with their classes reap the benefits throughout the entire school year
Educators who dedicate effort to creating a good relationship with their students enjoy the positive effects for the whole academic period.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
3 items Idioms & Expressionsreap what you sow — face consequences of your actions
He cheated on every test and now he's reaping what he sowed.
reap the benefits — enjoy the rewards
If you exercise daily, you'll reap the benefits soon.
reap the rewards — gain advantages from effort
She worked hard all year and finally reaped the rewards.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsharvest
gather crops
gain
get benefits
collect
gather results
earn
receive as reward
Antonymssow
plant seeds
lose
fail to gain