earned; earning; earns
1
a
: to receive as return for effort and especially for work done or services rendered
b
: to bring in by way of return
bonds earning 10 percent interest
2
a
: to come to be duly worthy of or entitled or suited to
she earned a promotion
b
: to make worthy of or obtain for
the suggestion earned him a promotion
earner
noun
Examples of earn in a Sentence
Verb (1)
during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns
you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
Instead, the latest Marvel movie picks up with its titular foursome several years into their new careers, having already earned fame and respect as the only superheroes on their planet, known as Earth 828.
—EW.com, 29 July 2025
The 29-year-old tennis pro became the first mother in women’s tennis history to earn the WTA World No. 1 Doubles ranking, a milestone that speaks to both her exceptional talent and the unique challenges facing mothers in professional athletics.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 July 2025
Explain to me how 11 at-large isn’t an invitational, and playing games, earning it on the field, (is)?
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for earn
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Verb
Earlier this year, five Tenet Healthcare hospitals sued a different hospital ratings organization called the Leapfrog Group after its hospitals earned low safety grades, according to the Miami Herald.
—Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025
Instead, the latest Marvel movie picks up with its titular foursome several years into their new careers, having already earned fame and respect as the only superheroes on their planet, known as Earth 828.
—EW.com, 29 July 2025
The 29-year-old tennis pro became the first mother in women’s tennis history to earn the WTA World No. 1 Doubles ranking, a milestone that speaks to both her exceptional talent and the unique challenges facing mothers in professional athletics.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 July 2025
Explain to me how 11 at-large isn’t an invitational, and playing games, earning it on the field, (is)?
—Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for earn
Cite this Entry
“Earn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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