# earn

/ˈɝn/ (US) · /ˈɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/earn
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to get money for work

verb · CEFR A2

to receive money as payment for the work you do.

For teachers: to receive money in return for labour or services rendered; can be used transitively with an amount or intransitively.

- She works at the hospital and earns a good salary every month.
- After years of entry-level positions, he finally secured a role where he could earn enough to support his family comfortably.

### 2. to deserve something

verb · CEFR B1

to get something like respect, praise, or a rest because you have worked hard for it.

For teachers: to merit or acquire a non-monetary reward, such as reputation or status, through one's actions or qualities.

- He worked very hard and finally earned the respect of his boss.
- The team's consistent performance throughout the season earned them a place in the national finals.

### 3. to result in a profit

verb · CEFR B2

to produce a profit or interest on money that has been invested.

For teachers: to yield a return on investment or capital.

- The money in my savings account earns a small amount of interest each year.
- Diversifying the portfolio ensured that the assets continued to earn a steady return despite the volatile market conditions.

## Examples

- She works hard to earn a good salary.
- After years of volunteering in the community, he managed to earn the trust of all his neighbours.
- While entry-level employees earn a modest hourly wage, the company offers performance-based bonuses that allow dedicated staff to significantly increase their annual take-home pay.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.