Reaping: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when talking about receiving outcomes, rewards, or consequences, often after effort or action. This can sometimes have a negative connotation if the results are undesirable.

• After months of hard work, she is now reaping the benefits of her dedication.
• The company is reaping the consequences of their poor management decisions.

Best used when referring to the process of collecting agricultural crops. It can also be used metaphorically for gathering resources or results after a period of growth.

• Farmers are busy harvesting the corn this season.
• After years of investment, they are now harvesting the rewards.

Appropriate when referring to the act of bringing items, information, or data together from different places. It does not typically imply the result of an action or effort.

• She enjoys collecting stamps from around the world.
• They are collecting data for their research project.

Typically used for bringing people, items, or information together in one place. It can imply a more social or informal action compared to 'collecting.'

• They are gathering at the community center for the meeting.
• He spent the afternoon gathering firewood.

Often used in agricultural contexts or metaphorically to describe harvesting or collecting the rewards of one's actions.

• Farmers are reaping the harvest.
• She is reaping the benefits of her hard work.

Typically used to describe the process of gradually obtaining something beneficial like knowledge, experience, or weight. It has a broad usage in informal and formal settings.

• She gained a lot of valuable experience during her internship.
• After starting the new diet, he began to gain weight.

Formal term often used in official, academic, or professional contexts to indicate that something has been received through effort or request.

• She obtained her degree from a prestigious university.
• He needed to obtain permission before making any changes to the project.

Used when describing the act of gaining something through effort, purchase, or learning. It is often formal in tone.

• He acquired a new set of skills during the training.
• She managed to acquire a rare book for her collection.