earn

1 of 2

verb (1)

ˈərn 

earned; earning; earns

transitive verb

1

a

: to receive as return for effort and especially for work done or services rendered

b

: to bring in by way of return

bonds earning 10 percent interest

2

a

: to come to be duly worthy of or entitled or suited to

she earned a promotion

b

: to make worthy of or obtain for

the suggestion earned him a promotion

earner noun

earn

2 of 2

verb (2)

earned; earning; earns

intransitive verb

obsolete

: grieve

Synonyms of earn

Verb (1)

• win
• gain
• reap
• garner
• make
• obtain
• get
• attain

Examples of earn in a Sentence

Verb (1)

during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns

you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But a band doesn’t earn its New York Times profile on good taste and great anecdotes alone. — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026

Born in Milan on March 26, 1933, and raised in Venice, Giovanni Brass earned a law degree, worked as an archivist at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris and served as an assistant director to Roberto Rossellini and Alberto Cavalcanti. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026

Seehorn has appeared in several films and television series but is best known for her portrayal of Kim Wexler on Better Call Saul and starring role as Carol Sturka in Apple TV’s Pluribus, earning an Emmy award for the latter in September 2026. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026

The Democrat defeated Republican Mike Rogers, earning a little over 52% of the vote with 97% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press. — Spencer Kimball,garrett Downs,dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger,justin Papp, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English ernen, from Old English earnian; akin to Old High German arnōn to reap, Czech jeseň autumn

Verb (2)

probably alteration of yearn

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing earn

• earn a living
• earn a/one's crust
• earn one's keep
• earn one's stripes
• earn/turn an honest penny
• win/earn one's spurs

Rhymes for earn

• berne
• burn
• churn
• dern
• erne
• fern
• hern
• hirn
• learn
• quern
• spurn
• terne

Kids Definition

earn

verb

ˈərn

1

: to get for services given

earn a good salary

2

: to deserve as a result of labor or service

earned good grades

earner noun