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

After earning a spot on the UFC's roster with a split-decision win on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2022, Hailey Cowan is calling it a career at the age of 34. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade. — Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026

The movie, a harrowing account of one family’s separation during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, earned Watts an Oscar nomination for best actress and marked Holland’s acting debut in a live-action feature film. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026

The song became a country radio favorite, was certified Gold, and earned her the Breakthrough Female Video of the Year award at the 2024 CMT Music Awards. — Sid Evans, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 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