earn

1
[ urn ]
See synonyms for: earnearnedearning on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to gain or get in return for one's labor or service: to earn one's living.

  2. to merit as compensation, as for service; deserve: to receive more than one has earned.

  1. to acquire through merit: to earn a reputation for honesty.

  2. to gain as due return or profit: Savings accounts earn interest.

  3. to bring about or cause deservedly: His fair dealing earned our confidence.

verb (used without object)
  1. to gain income: securities that earn on a quarterly basis.

Origin of earn

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English ern(i)en Old English earnian; akin to Old High German arnēn “to earn, harvest”

synonym study For earn

1. See gain1.

Other words for earn

Other words from earn

  • earner, noun

Words that may be confused with earn

Words Nearby earn

Other definitions for earn (2 of 2)

earn2
[ urn ]

verb (used without object)Obsolete.
  1. to grieve.

Origin of earn

2
First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps variant of yearn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use earn in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for earn

earn

/ (ɜːn) /


verb
  1. to gain or be paid (money or other payment) in return for work or service

  2. (tr) to acquire, merit, or deserve through behaviour or action: he has earned a name for duplicity

  1. (tr) (of securities, investments, etc) to gain (interest, return, profit, etc)

Origin of earn

1
Old English earnian; related to Old High German arnēn to reap, Old Saxon asna salary, tithe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with earn

earn

In addition to the idioms beginning with earn

  • earn one's keep
  • earn one's stripes

also see:

  • penny saved is a penny earned

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.