# earnings

/ˈɝnɪŋz/ (US) · /ˈɜːnɪŋz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wages or salary

noun · CEFR B2

the money you get for the work you do.

For teachers: the total amount of money an individual receives as compensation for their labour or services.

- Average weekly earnings have increased slightly over the last year.
- Despite the rising cost of living, real earnings for middle-income families have remained largely stagnant for nearly a decade.

Usage: Always used in the plural form and requires a plural verb.

### 2. company profit

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the profit a company makes after paying its costs.

For teachers: the net income or profit of a corporation over a specific fiscal period.

- The tech company reported record earnings for the third quarter.
- The corporation's quarterly earnings exceeded analyst expectations, leading to a sharp increase in share price during after-hours trading.

Usage: Commonly used in financial reporting and stock market analysis.

Teaching tip: In a business context, 'earnings' often refers specifically to 'earnings per share' (EPS) when discussed by investors.

### 3. investment returns

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the money you make from your investments or savings.

For teachers: the financial gains or returns generated by capital investments.

- She reinvested her earnings from the stock market into a new business.
- Long-term investors are generally more concerned with the stability of their earnings than with short-term market volatility.

## Examples

- The company reported record earnings this quarter.
- Despite the rise in revenue, the firm's net earnings dropped due to higher manufacturing costs and taxes.
- Analysts remain cautious about the stock because the company's projected earnings fail to account for potential shifts in international trade policy and currency fluctuations.

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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.