earn

/ərn/
/ən/
IPA guide

Other forms: earned; earning; earns

When you earn something, you gain it as a result of your actions. You can earn your friend's gratitude by rescuing her pet kitten from a tree.

Earning has to do with things people get through their own efforts or behavior. A good friend earns your trust. A dishonest coworker might earn a reputation as a liar. This word is also used in financial contexts. If someone asks how much you earned last year, they're asking how much money you made at your job.

Definitions of earn
  1. verb
    acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
    synonyms: garner
    see moresee less
    types:
    letter
    win an athletic letter
    type of:
    acquire, get
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
  2. verb
    earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages
    “She earns a lot in her new job”
    synonyms: bring in, clear, gain, make, pull in, realise, realize, take in
    make
    act in a certain way so as to acquire
    clear, net, sack, sack up
    make as a net profit
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 13 types...
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    eke out, squeeze out
    make by laborious and precarious means
    profit, turn a profit
    make a profit; gain money or materially
    rake off
    take money from an illegal transaction
    bring home, take home
    earn as a salary or wage
    rake in, shovel in
    earn large sums of money
    gross
    earn before taxes, expenses, etc.
    bear, pay, yield
    bring in
    line one's pockets
    make a lot of money
    turn a nice dime, turn a nice dollar, turn a nice penny
    make a satisfactory profit
    clean up
    make a big profit; often in a short period of time
    clear, net
    yield as a net profit
    pay off
    yield a profit or result
    monetize
    use something as a source of income or profit
    type of:
    acquire, get
    come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
Pronunciation
US
/ərn/
UK
/ən/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘earn'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family

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