award，reward 這兩個詞都可以用作名詞和動詞，作名詞時，意義相近，但不是同義詞。
作名詞時，award的意思是“獎品”、“獎金”，其義與prize近似，兩者都指因為作出杰出成就而受獎。
例： the olympic winner received a gold medal as an award. he won the second award of $ 2，000. 而reward作名詞時，其意為“賞金”、“酬金”或一些非金錢的報酬。
例： we will offer a reward of ten thousand dollars for information about the case. 如果有人提供有關案件的情報，我們愿意出一萬元賞金。 we don't expect substantial rewards.我們并不期望得到優厚的報酬。
用作動詞時，award的意思是“授與”、“頒發”、“判給”;reward則表示“報答”、“酬謝”之意。例： he was awarded the first prize for outstanding industrial design.他獲杰出工業設計一等獎。 we judge awarded him twenty thousand dollars as damages.法官判給他二萬元作為賠償費。 you should reward them according to their deserts.你應該對他們論功行賞。 is that how you reward me for my help?你就是這樣來報答我給你的幫助嗎? reward也可以用于比喻意。
例： i would feel amply rewarded if my book—a study of english twins—could be of some help to the readers. 如果我的書《英語學生詞語之研究》對讀者有所幫助的話，我就感到心滿意足了。