earn

1 of 3

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 3

verb (2)

earned; earning; earns

intransitive verb

obsolete

: grieve

earner

3 of 3

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 combination

wage earners

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

As gut health trends surge, from fiber-heavy diets to microbiome therapies, centuries-old fermentation is suddenly in the spotlight — even earning a nod in the federal government’s latest dietary guidelines. — Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

The Bulldogs earned a second straight NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2001-02. — Hunter Delauder, AJC.com, 15 July 2026

Moore will be earning around $740,000-$750,000 an episode, which puts her in the same range as Thornton, according to Deadline. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

On television, Neill earned his first Golden Globe nomination for the lead role in Reilly, Ace of Spies in the 1980s. — ArsTechnica, 15 July 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

Noun

1602, 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