earning

Verb (1)

earn (third-person singular simple present earns, present participle earning, simple past and past participle earned or (chiefly UK) earnt)

1. (transitive) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
   • You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.

   Synonyms:

   deserve, merit, garner, win

2. (transitive) To receive payment for work or for a role or position held (regardless of whether effort was applied or whether the remuneration is deserved or commensurate).
   • He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO. My bank account is only earning one percent interest.
3. (intransitive) To receive payment for work.
   • Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.

   Synonyms:

   get, take in, rake in, rake it in

4. (transitive) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.
   • My CD earns me six percent!

   Synonyms:

   yield, make, generate, render

5. (transitive) To achieve by being worthy of.
   • to earn a spot in the top 20

Verb (2)

earn (third-person singular simple present earns, present participle earning, simple past and past participle earned)

1. (UK, archaic, dialectal, transitive) To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.

   Synonyms:

   run, yearn

See all 10 meanings of earn