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.

Origin of earn

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

SYNONYMS FOR earn

1 procure, make, receive, obtain. See gain1.

OTHER WORDS FROM earn

earn·er, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH earn

earn urn

Words nearby earn

early wood, early-type star, early-warning system, earmark, earmuff, earn, earn one's keep, earn one's stripes, earned income, earned run, earned run average

Example sentences from the Web for earner

British Dictionary definitions for earner (1 of 2)

earner
/ (ˈɜːnə) /

noun

a person who earns money
British and Australian informal an activity or thing that produces income, esp illicitly a nice little earner

British Dictionary definitions for earner (2 of 2)

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 action he 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

Idioms and Phrases with earner

earn