earning

verb

present participle of earn
1
as in winning
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 deserving
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 earning Perusini started out in the music industry, earning a living licensing songs and making and selling mix CDs in the early aughts. — HubSpot, 30 Oct. 2026 Presently, in this de jure socialist country that officially condemns capitalism, markets and the imperative of earning hard cash shape people’s daily lives. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026 Bianca Ramirez, 34, had recently achieved her dream of becoming a nurse and earning her bachelor’s of science in nursing after years of working as a patient care assistant. — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026 Lange took a starring role in the four seasons of the series, earning her two Primetime Emmy awards along the way — and a whole new generation of fans. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026 However, the Dolphins have gotten a smidge of confidence after earning their first win last week — on the road, no less. — Keven Lerner, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026 This makes the decision-making process a lot easier for prospective cardholders, but what if you were really invested in earning that Bilt Cash? — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 The lowest earning 10% of Connecticut workers effectively lost 40% of their income to state and municipal tax burdens in 2022, according to the most recent study, done in late 2025 by the Department of Revenue Services. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026 Pujol went on to collect numerous awards, earning a spot in the top ten of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and two Michelin stars when the guide launched in the capital city in 2024. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earning
  1. winning
  2. deserving
  3. gaining
  4. garnering
  5. reaping
  6. making
  7. obtaining
  8. getting
Verb
  • Attendees were enthusiastic about Talarico’s prospects and the possibility of a Democrat winning statewide in Texas.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Simpson, 60, is a former state Senate president who served in the upper chamber for 10 years before winning the agriculture commissioner position in 2022.
    — Liv Caputo, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of winning
Verb
  • But the game management staff, certain depth chart placements and how the roster fails to reach its potential are deserving of an extensive evaluation.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Millions of dollars in royalties that Smith diverted from real, deserving artists and rights holders.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of deserving
Verb
  • Research applications could begin gaining traction in the late 2020s, with more substantial materials-discovery applications potentially emerging during the 2030s.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The analyst said that Vera Rubin is gaining momentum, though details on next year's Rubin Ultra were lighter than expected.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of gaining
Verb
  • In the scenic Colorado mountain town, the movie became a word-of-mouth sensation after garnering near-euphoric reviews.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That’s more than double the cash Tesla’s been garnering from operations in the last few quarters, meaning that will have a much bigger cash deficit in the final three months of 2026.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of garnering
Verb
  • Even the red carpet is reaping the benefit; just take Carey Mulligan’s pleated silver gown, for instance.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026
  • That’s a question worth pondering only if the NBA wants the W’s growth plan to be something more nuanced than putting Caitlin Clark on the floor and reaping ad revenue.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of reaping
Verb
  • While the bathrooms in most accommodations feature walk-in showers, a few of the upstairs rooms have bathtubs, making those rooms a good choice for families.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Give the city, the district and potential partners the time to determine whether co-location can work before making a decision that cannot easily be undone.
    — Tim Lonergan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of making
Verb
  • The copilot was identified as 20-year-old Natalia Gadelha Filgueiras, an aspiring airline pilot who earned her wings before obtaining her driver's license, according to a report.
    — Stephen Sorace , Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process for obtaining revocable consent currently involves filing a petition with the Department of Transportation, which then must hold a public hearing.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of obtaining
Verb
  • Now, Tan-Gillespie is tasked with getting KFC’s American business back on track as the brand faces growing competition paired with more health-conscious and cash-strapped consumers.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Before Rover, success meant getting promotions, landing bigger clients and climbing the corporate ladder.
    — Sally Simmons, Contributor, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of getting

Browse Nearby Words

earnestness
earning
earnings
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Cite this Entry

“Earning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earning. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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