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

Rashford’s smooth shimmy, going inside this time, bamboozled his opponent, who had to pull him down, earning a booking. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

In Iraq, the faction earned rebukes from clerics who had previously supported global jihad as well as from more mainstream religious leaders. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Like others without legal status, Rizo was ineligible for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and relied on state education assistance programs to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2022. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

The majority are for those earning at least 50% of an area’s median income, or AMI. — Claire Rush, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 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