earn

verb

ˈərn How to pronounce earn (audio)
Definition of earnnext
1
as in to win
to receive as return for effort during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deserve
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of earn Over the past century, each generation has earned more, inflation-adjusted, than the last. — Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 Luna Mejia was earning wages from that employer while receiving SNAP benefits, but did not report that income on recertifications, investigators allege. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2026 Separately, Layla Taylor publicly came out as bisexual, earning support from fans and her castmates. — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2026 For the ultimate Old Navy loyalists, there’s the All-Access tier, where members earn 25 points per $1 spent, an extended return window, free shipping on orders of $35 or more, and even more perks. — Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for earn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earn
  1. win
  2. deserve
  3. gain
  4. reap
  5. garner
  6. make
  7. obtain
  8. get
Verb
  • Boise State won the 1980 NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in Setencich’s first season, defeating Eastern Kentucky, 31-29, in the title game.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 July 2026
  • The former three-time major winner has been all but forgotten by his former peers in the PGA, in part because his son is now a rising star who’s won a couple of tournaments.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 July 2026
Definition of win
Verb
  • Every child deserves security, dignity, and a community that stands fiercely in their defense.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Anyone speaking on camera under those circumstances, having given so much on the pitch, deserves a significant amount of leeway.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of deserve
Verb
  • Key strategies include acquiring certifications and completing short courses to gain specific competencies quickly.
    — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • After gaining momentum from beating the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and taking the first game against the Astros, the Rangers fell off and got dominated at home.
    — Cal Phillips Updated July 11, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2026
Definition of gain
Verb
  • Authors would sometimes reap the fiscal benefits of their work, too, since self-publishing online could lead to a book’s publication in print (or, even better, a movie adaptation).
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • The offbeat film became a critical and audience hit, grossing $140 million, and reaped Oscars for Hunter, Paquin and screenwriter Campion.
    — Chris Morris, Variety, 13 July 2026
Definition of reap
Verb
  • The video-game publisher would go on to release an additional 20 titles in that line, according to IGN, including the mobile game Pro Yakyuu Spirits A, which has garnered more than 73 million downloads dating back to its release in 2015.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
  • The use of body cameras has largely garnered bipartisan agreement, particularly amid aggressive confrontations between federal agents and members of the public over the past year.
    — Holmes Lybrand, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of garner
Verb
  • In 2020, as critics of standardized tests made similar equity arguments, the UC system decided to remove the use of SAT and ACT test scores in admissions.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • What makes this harder to believe is that the night before, Gavin accused Kenny of lying to him for years, and Kenny likened him to Bernie Madoff.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Definition of make
Verb
  • Exonerees in Georgia have a new pathway to obtain compensation from the state, which Pugh intends to pursue, but that process takes time.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • Authorities confirmed the match after obtaining his DNA from trash.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of obtain
Verb
  • The city banned data centers near transit and the Beltline, but this one is trying to get an exception.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
  • Residents in Congressional District 24 will get a chance to hear from candidates running to fill the seat of outgoing Congresswoman Frederica Wilson at a forum held in Little Haiti.
    — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of get

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Cite this Entry

“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earn. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on earn

Nglish: Translation of earn for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about earn

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