earn

1 of 3

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 3

verb (2)

earned; earning; earns

intransitive verb

obsolete

: grieve

earner

3 of 3

noun

earn·​er

ˈərnər;

ˈə̄nə(r, 

ˈəin-

plural -s

: one that earns especially money

however trite they may be Westerns are among the motion-picture industry's best earners

—often used in combination

wage earners

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

Each of the company’s more than 20 brands is distributed in North America, with many earning the top spot in key categories. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Jo, who is still desperately trying to earn her orange back, and more power to her, brings Alexis over to Heather for another pointless conversation. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Among those surveyed, Latinos who didn’t vote in 2024 were more likely than those who had voted to have economic frustrations, like struggling to earn enough money or find a good job. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026

The actor earned a best supporting Oscar nomination for his work in American Fiction and is known for his work as one of the stars of This is Us. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 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

Noun

1602, 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