Earn definition

ûrn
earned earning earns
See word origin
Frequency:
To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action.

She earned a reputation as a hard worker.

verb
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To receive (salary, wages, etc.) for one's labor or service.
verb
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To get or deserve as a result of something one has done.
verb
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To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work.

Earned money by mowing lawns.

verb
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To receive (interest, dividends, etc.) as a return.
verb
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To earn is defined as to gain something through effort or work.

An example of to earn is to be paid five dollars for washing a car.

An example of to earn is to get a promotion for being very good at your job.

An example of to earn is to take a vacation after completing a difficult and time-consuming project.

verb
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To yield as return or profit.

A savings account that earns interest on deposited funds.

verb
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To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.

My CD earns me six percent!

verb
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To be worthy of.

To earn a spot in the top 20

verb
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(UK, dialect, dated) To curdle, as milk.
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(obsolete) To long; to yearn.
verb
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To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.

You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.

verb
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To receive payment for work.

He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO.

My bank account is only earning one percent interest.

verb
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(intransitive) To receive payment for work.

Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.

verb
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(obsolete) To grieve.
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Alternative form of erne.

noun
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earn (one's) spurs
  • To gain a position through hard work and the accumulation of experience, often in the face of difficulties.
idiom
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Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Origin of earn

  • Middle English ernen from Old English earnian

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Anglo-Saxon irnan to run. See rennet, and compare yearnings.

    From Wiktionary

  • Old English earnian

    From Wiktionary