earn

1 of 2

verb (1)

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

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
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.
Verb
Pike, who died of Cancer in 2019, earned notoriety in the early 1980s after establishing the Pikes Hotel in Ibiza. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025 The founder earned a reputation for stirring up controversy and pushing fashion ideas to the extreme, as in his use of oversized silhouettes and his iconoclastic runway presentations. Miles Socha, WWD, 29 Jan. 2025 The Philadelphia Eagles earned a trip to the Super Bowl, and many of the city's residents have had to pay a steep price for the ensuing chaos. Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025 Season 1 earned 24 nominations at the 2023 Emmys and won eight of those awards, including giving Nick Offerman his first Emmy win for his role as lonely survivor Bill and child actor Keivonn Montreal Woodard becoming the youngest actor to win in the outstanding guest actor award at age 10. Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for earn 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of earn was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near earn

Cite this Entry

“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on earn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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