reap
REEP
Reap (verb) means to cut and gather a crop, especially grain. Example: “Farmers reap the wheat in late summer.”
verb
1
To cut and gather a crop, especially grain.
"Farmers reap the wheat in late summer."
2
To receive something, often as a consequence or reward, of earlier effort.
"She reaped the rewards of years of hard studying."
"Those who cut corners often reap the consequences later."
How to use reap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, to harvest crops; figuratively, to get the results — good or bad — of what you have done.
Common mistake
Often paired with "sow" in the saying "you reap what you sow," meaning your actions eventually catch up with you.
Common pairings
reap the rewards
reap what you sow
reap a harvest
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Word forms
- Plural
- reaps
- Third person singular
- reaps
- Past tense
- reaped, reapt
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Farmers _____ the wheat in late summer.
Etymology
From Old English rēopan/rīpan ("to reap"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to cut or harvest, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word for "to snatch."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for reap
See all rhymes for reap →Frequently asked questions
What does “reap” mean?
The word “reap” means to cut and gather a crop, especially grain. In plain terms, literally, to harvest crops; figuratively, to get the results — good or bad — of what you have done.
How do you pronounce “reap”?
“Reap” is pronounced REEP (/ˈɹiːp/ in IPA).
How do you use “reap” in a sentence?
Here is “reap” used in a sentence: “Farmers reap the wheat in late summer.”
What part of speech is “reap”?
“Reap” is a verb.
Where does the word “reap” come from?
The word “reap” comes from Old English. From Old English rēopan/rīpan ("to reap"), from a Proto-Germanic root meaning to cut or harvest, ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European word for "to snatch.".
Is “reap” a common word?
“Reap” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “reap” have?
“Reap” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cut and gather a crop, especially grain.
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