earnings
Americannoun
plural noun
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money or other payment earned
-
the profits of an enterprise
Etymology
Origin of earnings
before 1050; Middle English erning, Old English earning, earnung merit, pay. See earn 1, -ing 1, -s 3
Explanation
Earnings are the amount of money you make from doing a job. You'll be a lot more excited about babysitting when you learn your earnings will be more than generous. Most earnings come from work that you've done, although money you earn from an investment can also be called earnings. Any financial profit or gain you make go into the earnings category, since you earn that money, whether through work, luck, or intelligence. The Proto-Germanic root, *aznon, means "do harvest work."
Vocabulary lists containing earnings
One Idea, Part 1
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Century 21 Accounting, 9e, Chapters 11-14
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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.
The telecommunication company’s consumer earnings were better than expected, with overall revenue above expectations, the analysts note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
The impact on supply contracts and AI stocks’ earnings is likely to be limited, as data-center investment schedules are unlikely to face major delays, Kiwoom Securities analyst Han Ji-young says in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
However, third-quarter volumes at the Danish carrier’s main shipping business fell 1% and earnings came in below expectations, hitting shares.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
Analysts expect adjusted earnings of $14.90 a share for fiscal 2027.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
At each stop, Irela paid out more of Lupita’s earnings to various clerks.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
