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
Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Ashley, Vince and Mickey then competed in the BB Block Buster, and Vince won to earn safety.
—David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
As of 2025, Gen Z travelers are likely to take longer trips than their millennial counterparts, despite being younger and statistically earning less.
—Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Torres played last season at Burleson Centennial, earning District 7-5A Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after passing for more than 2,000 yards.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earn
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Verb
The 2023 League Cup win broke a six-year trophy drought at the club, and the 2024 FA Cup win over Guardiola’s City likely earned him a stay of execution after a dismal eighth-place league finish.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Ashley, Vince and Mickey then competed in the BB Block Buster, and Vince won to earn safety.
—David Wysong, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025
As of 2025, Gen Z travelers are likely to take longer trips than their millennial counterparts, despite being younger and statistically earning less.
—Acacia Gabriel, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2025
Torres played last season at Burleson Centennial, earning District 7-5A Division I Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors after passing for more than 2,000 yards.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earn
Cite this Entry
“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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