earn
earn
Pronunciation
/ɜːrn/
[ɜː] - the vowel sound, similar to the "ir" in "bird"
[r] - the "r" sound
[n] - the "n" sound
Word Form Variations
Base Form/Infinitive: earn
Third-person singular present: earns
Present participle: earning
Past tense: earned
Past participle: earned
Noun form (result of earning): earnings (plural, though often treated as a singular concept, e.g., "His earnings were significant.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To acquire money, goods, or services in return for labor or services rendered; to gain as a wage or salary.
Synonyms: gain, acquire, obtain, make, collect
Antonyms: spend, lose, forfeit, squander
Definition 2: To merit or deserve something as a result of one's actions, qualities, or efforts.
Synonyms: deserve, merit, warrant, qualify for, rate
Antonyms: forfeit, lose, invalidate, disqualify
Noun
Definition 1 (often used in the plural: "earnings"): The money or compensation received for work done or services provided.
Synonyms: income, wages, salary, revenue, profit, proceeds
Antonyms: expenses, outgoings, costs, losses
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent years working tirelessly to earn his medical degree, often studying late into the night." (From a fictional narrative, common in the genre of character development)
Newspapers:
"The tech giant reported record-breaking earnings in the first quarter of the year, driven by strong cloud computing sales." (The Wall Street Journal, April 2024)
Online Publications:
"New research suggests that individuals who volunteer regularly may earn a greater sense of well-being and life satisfaction." (Psychology Today, May 2025)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "You have to earn your place at this table, not just expect it." (From a dramatic film, common in mentor-protégé interactions)
Song Lyrics: "Every single dime I earn, I'm gonna save for a better day." (From a popular song, common theme of financial aspiration)
Video Game: A quest objective might state: "Complete all challenges to earn the legendary armor set." (Common in role-playing games)
General Public Discourse:
"I really want to earn that promotion, so I'm putting in extra hours."
"She didn't just get lucky; she worked hard to earn her success."
"What kind of interest can you earn on a high-yield savings account right now?"
10 Quotes Using Earn
"A penny saved is a penny earned." (Benjamin Franklin)
"You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing. You don't have to do anything to earn it." (Ram Dass)
"Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success." (Virat Kohli)
"I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts." (John D. Rockefeller)
"Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation." (Coretta Scott King)
"Trust is earned. So is distrust. And I often wonder which of the two we spend most of our time earning?" (Craig D. Lounsbrough)
"Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn." (Miguel de Cervantes)
"Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others." (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)
"Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned." (Emily Dickinson)
"The darkest hour in any man's life is when he sits down to plan how to get money without earning it." (Horace Greeley)
Etymology
The word "earn" comes from Old English, specifically the word "earnien." This Old English word meant "to deserve, to gain, to labor for, or to get a reward for work."
Its roots go even further back to a Proto-Germanic word, "*aznon," which was related to doing "harvest work" or "serving." You can see this connection in words like the German "Ernte" (harvest). So, originally, the idea behind "earn" was very much tied to the work you put in, especially in the fields, and the reward you received for that effort.
The first known use of "earn" in English, with a meaning similar to how we use it today (receiving something in return for effort), dates back to the Old English period, before 1150. So, it's a very old word in the English language!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Earn
Earn a living: To work to make enough money to support oneself.
Earn your stripes: To prove one's worth or ability through experience and hard work.
Earn your keep: To do enough work or contribute enough to justify one's presence or continued support.
Earn a reputation: To develop a particular character or standing in the eyes of others.
Earn a place: To achieve a position or status through effort.
Earn one's respect/trust: To gain the admiration or confidence of someone through actions and behavior.
Earn your way: To progress or succeed through effort, often without special favors.
Earn your bread: Another way of saying "earn a living."
Earn a pat on the back: To deserve praise or recognition for something well done.
Earn a reward: To deserve a prize or benefit for an action or achievement.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of earn from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
