bounty

/ˈbaʊnti/ (bre, ipa) · [bˈaʊnti] /ˈbaʊnti/ (ame, ipa) · [bˈaʊnti] /ˈbau̇n-tē How to pronounce bounty (audio)/ (ame, mw)

bounty — noun

  • bountysingular
  • bountiesplural

1. money offered to someone for catching a criminal, joining a force, or doing anot

1.名詞C1
釋義

money offered to someone for catching a criminal, joining a force, or doing another act the payer wants.

例句

The sheriff offered a bounty after two horses were stolen from the fair.

offer a bounty after a crime

Gabriela earned a bounty for reporting the wolf traps near the school farm.

earn a bounty for reporting

同義詞
  • reward

    the broadest word for something given because of an action

  • bonus

    usually extra pay added to normal wages rather than a public offer

  • subsidy

    official financial support, often for an industry or activity

反義詞
  • fine

    money taken from someone as punishment instead of given as a reward

  • penalty

    a punishment or cost rather than an incentive payment

文法句型

offer a bounty for + action/person/animal

pay a bounty to + person

earn/claim a bounty

用法筆記

Often used when an authority or organization publicly offers money for capture, enlistment, or another desired action. Distinguish from a routine bonus: a bounty is tied to achieving a specific wanted result.

常見錯誤

❌The company gave a bounty for my extra weekend shift.
✅The company gave me a bonus for my extra weekend shift.
💡bounty is usually for capture, enlistment, or another specifically wanted act, not ordinary extra work.

2. a generous spirit that shows itself in freely giving help, gifts, or support to

2.名詞C2
釋義

a generous spirit that shows itself in freely giving help, gifts, or support to other people.

例句

After the fire, Devika spoke with gratitude about the bounty of strangers.

the bounty of + people

The museum survives on the bounty of donors who fund free school visits.

survive on the bounty of + donors

同義詞
  • generosity

    the closest everyday word for a willingness to give freely

  • liberality

    more formal and often used in writing

  • kindness

    broader and not always focused on giving material help

反義詞

文法句型

the bounty of + person/group

live on the bounty of + donors/supporters

用法筆記

This sense is formal and often appears with 'of' to name the generous giver. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 2 describes the giver's generosity, while sense 3 describes the plentiful things received from land or nature.

常見錯誤

❌The shop sold fruit in great bounty.
✅The shop sold fruit in great abundance.
💡this sense is about generosity, not simply the amount of things available.

3. a rich supply of something useful or pleasant, especially food, crops, or things

3.名詞C1
釋義

a rich supply of something useful or pleasant, especially food, crops, or things that come from nature.

例句

By August, Linh's small garden was a bounty of beans and tomatoes.

a bounty of + crops

Warm rain brought a bounty of mushrooms to the hills above town.

bring a bounty of + natural growth

同義詞
  • abundance

    the most general word for a very large amount

  • plenty

    more everyday and conversational

  • richness

    often stresses the quality or fertility behind the supply

反義詞
  • scarcity

    a state in which there is not enough available

  • shortage

    not having the amount that is needed

文法句型

a bounty of + food/plants/resources

the bounty of + nature/land/sea

用法筆記

Often appears in phrases such as 'a bounty of' or 'the bounty of nature'. Unlike sense 2, the focus is on the plentiful result or yield, not on a person's generous character.