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

The median full-time worker earned $596 a week in the third quarter of 2001 and $1,251 in the second quarter of 2026, according to BLS data, a gain of about 3% a year. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

The following year, at the 2006 Latin Billboard Music Awards, the song earned a nomination (for Hot Latin Song of the Year by Vocal Duet or Collaboration). — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2026

The report also found that nearly 8 percent of students earned a bachelor’s within three years, including more than 6,900 who finished in a year or less. — Todd Wallack, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

The Times soon outgrew its home, which by then had begun to earn its status as a platform for display. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 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