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Synonyms

earn

1 American  
[urn] / ɜrn /

verb (used with object)

  1. to gain or get in return for one's labor or service.

    to earn one's living.

    Synonyms:
    obtain, receive, make, procure
  2. to merit as compensation, as for service; deserve.

    to receive more than one has earned.

  3. to acquire through merit.

    to earn a reputation for honesty.

  4. to gain as due return or profit.

    Savings accounts earn interest.

  5. 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.

earn 2 American  
[urn] / ɜrn /

verb (used without object)

Obsolete.
  1. to grieve.


earn British  
/ 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

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

"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

earn Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing earn

    • penny saved is a penny earned

Related Words

See gain 1.

Other Word Forms

  • earner noun

Etymology

Origin of earn1

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

Origin of earn1

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps variant of yearn

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

One positive sign from Nvidia’s earnings report in November, he said, is that it’s guiding for gross margins to be in the mid-seventies percentage range in the coming year.

From MarketWatch

“Vince Gilligan meant for it to raise questions, not answer them,” said Seehorn, whose performance in the show earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a television drama.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Apple chief executive purchased 50,000 Nike shares after the sportswear brand’s disappointing earnings last week.

From The Wall Street Journal

You deserve every one of those summer holidays, even though many teachers use that time to earn extra bucks.

From MarketWatch

The recreational-vehicle maker’s earnings could get a further boost if a more pronounced selling season causes dealers to restock additional units, but broader economic factors continue to hinder overall retail demand, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal