earned; earning; earns
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
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
Jay Harris, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The resulting delay causes wealthy people to lose a little interest on that deposit, which earns some money for the banks.
—Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Bob has earned many accolades for his work helping to shape the beverage programs for bars and restaurants across the country.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
In the legal profession in particular, these shifts have raised new questions about credibility, focus, and how authority is earned outside of traditional institutional pathways.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earn
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Verb
Coulibaly scored nine goals in four games at that tournament, held in Mexico, and earned a life-changing move to Tottenham Hotspur from Italian side Siena.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026
The resulting delay causes wealthy people to lose a little interest on that deposit, which earns some money for the banks.
—Aaron Klein, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Bob has earned many accolades for his work helping to shape the beverage programs for bars and restaurants across the country.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
In the legal profession in particular, these shifts have raised new questions about credibility, focus, and how authority is earned outside of traditional institutional pathways.
—Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earn
Cite this Entry
“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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