earn

1 of 2

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 2

verb (2)

earned; earning; earns

intransitive verb

obsolete

: grieve

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

Yoendrys Gómez earned his third save in as many games and 20th of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth. — CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

This disparity persists even when both partners work full-time or when women earn more as primary breadwinners. — Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

England went on to defeat the Netherlands, earning the women’s team their first-ever Olympic gold medal. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026

She was later reprimanded by an ethics committee but earned plaudits from Democratic allies and voting rights for her demonstration. — Matt Brown, Fortune, 19 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

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