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
earn·er
ˈərnər;
ˈə̄nə(r,
ˈəin-
plural -s
: one that earns especially money
however trite they may be Westerns are among the motion-picture industry's best earners
—often used in combinationwage earners
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
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The government does not earn tax revenues from a large chunk of economic activity.
—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
25 June 2026
Fifteen years after enrollment in a bachelor’s program, the average student had earned a cumulative $533,151.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Tanner Scott pitched the ninth for Los Angeles, earning his 11th save of the season.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for earn
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Verb
The apartments will be reserved for households earning between 30% and 70% of the area’s median income, providing affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income residents.
—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
The government does not earn tax revenues from a large chunk of economic activity.
—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
25 June 2026
Fifteen years after enrollment in a bachelor’s program, the average student had earned a cumulative $533,151.
—
Daniel De Visé,
USA Today,
25 June 2026
Tanner Scott pitched the ninth for Los Angeles, earning his 11th save of the season.
—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
25 June 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 26 Jun. 2026.
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