earn
1[ urn ]
/ ɜrn /
verb (used with object)
to gain or get in return for one's labor or service: to earn one's living.
to merit as compensation, as for service; deserve: to receive more than one has earned.
to acquire through merit: to earn a reputation for honesty.
to gain as due return or profit: Savings accounts earn interest.
to bring about or cause deservedly: His fair dealing earned our confidence.
verb (used without object)
to gain income: securities that earn on a quarterly basis.
Words nearby earn
Origin of earn
1before 900; Middle English ern(i)en, Old English earnian; akin to Old High German arnēn to earn, harvest
OTHER WORDS FROM earn
earn·er, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH earn
earn urnDefinition for earning (2 of 2)
earn2
[ urn ]
/ ɜrn /
verb (used without object) Obsolete.
to grieve.
Origin of earn
2First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps variant of yearn
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for earning
British Dictionary definitions for earning
earn
/ (ɜːn) /
verb
to gain or be paid (money or other payment) in return for work or service
(tr) to acquire, merit, or deserve through behaviour or actionhe has earned a name for duplicity
(tr) (of securities, investments, etc) to gain (interest, return, profit, etc)
Word Origin for earn
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
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Idioms and Phrases with earning
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.