When something is rewarding, it leaves you glad you did it — not because someone paid you well, but because it felt useful or important. People say this a lot about work that does not pay much: teaching, looking after family, volunteering. You will hear, “The pay is low, but the job is so rewarding.” Though actually, people stretch it: a long walk, a hard puzzle, a serious talk can all be rewarding if you come away feeling it was worth the effort. It is a calm, grown-up word, common in job ads and in ordinary talk. It names the feeling the activity itself gives you.