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
Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Her recognition for the part, in addition to earning her an Oscar, included a Golden Globe and SAG Award for best performance by an actress.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Hyundai Motor Group’s Atlas humanoid robot emerged as a standout winner at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this week, earning the Best Robot award as chosen by global media covering the show.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
BonAmb Since earning two Michelin stars (in 2013 and 2016, respectively), BonAmb has helped Xàbia become a destination for top-notch dining.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for earn
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Verb
The federal government pays 90% of the costs of Idaho’s Medicaid expansion, which as of early 2025 provided access to care for about 90,000 lower-income Idaho residents who earn too much to qualify for standard Medicaid but not enough for private insurance discounts.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Her recognition for the part, in addition to earning her an Oscar, included a Golden Globe and SAG Award for best performance by an actress.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Hyundai Motor Group’s Atlas humanoid robot emerged as a standout winner at CES 2026 in Las Vegas this week, earning the Best Robot award as chosen by global media covering the show.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
BonAmb Since earning two Michelin stars (in 2013 and 2016, respectively), BonAmb has helped Xàbia become a destination for top-notch dining.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 2026.
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