reap what one sows

UK/ˌɹiːp(h)wɒt wʌn ˈsəʊz/US/ˌɹip wɑt wʌn ˈsoʊz/

verb

To receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one's exertions or intentions, in a good or a bad sense; to receive justice or one's just deserts.

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Meanings

verbreap what one sows (third-person singular simple present reaps what one sows, present participle reaping what one sows, simple past reaped what one sowed or reaped what one had sown, past participle reaped what one has sown or reaped what one had sown)

present singular third person reaps what one sows · participle present reaping what one sows · past reaped what one sowed · past reaped what one had sown · participle past reaped what one has sown · participle past reaped what one had sown

  1. To receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one's exertions or intentions, in a good or a bad sense; to receive justice or one's just deserts.

    You're going to reap just what you sow

    1972, Lou Reed, “Perfect Day”
    1 more example

    "We will reap what we sow; live with what we do not act to change," he said.

    2005 November 15, Tony Blair, The Guardian

Origin

From Galatians 6:7 in the Bible (King James Version; spelling modernized): “Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 自食其果
  • 自食其果 (zìshíqíguǒ)to receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
French récolter ce que l'on a semé
  • récolter ce que l'on a seméto receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
Portuguese colher o que semear
  • colher o que semearto receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
Spanish recoger lo que se siembra, cosechar lo que se siembra
  • recoger lo que se siembrato receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
  • cosechar lo que se siembrato receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
Turkish ektiğini biçmek
  • ektiğini biçmekto receive as a return or reward in the same measure as one’s exertions or intentions — see also as you sow, so shall you reap, sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with reap what one sows

closegoesosrosefollowsclothesknowsJosedosnosechosehoseproposediscloseposeimposefellowsopposeexposeprosebosecomposedisposeenclose
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

reap what one sows. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reap%20what%20one%20sows

MLA

“reap what one sows.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reap%20what%20one%20sows. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reap what one sows,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reap%20what%20one%20sows.

Source: reap what one sows on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.