earnverb
To earn is to get something in return for what you give or do: money for work, respect for good behavior, or interest on money you save.
moneyget money for the work that you do
transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]
- How much does she earn?
- He earns a good salary as a nurse. V + obj
- I earn my living by teaching music. V + obj
- They earn about twice as much as we do. V + obj
Collocations
adverb + verb barely earnSynonyms make
Compare win
deserveget something because of what you have done or how you have acted
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + two objects [V + obj + obj]
- She earned the respect of everyone on the team. V + obj
- You've worked hard all week; you've earned a rest. V + obj
- His hard work earned him a place at the college. V + obj + obj
Synonyms deserve
interestget money as interest from money that is kept in a bank or used in business
transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] finance
- This account earns interest every month. V + obj
- My savings aren't earning much at the moment. V + obj
Collocations
verb + noun earn interest
Word family
- earnings
- earner
Choosing between earn · win · gain
You earn money by working for it (earn a salary). You win money in a game, a competition, or by luck (win the lottery). Gain means to get more of something, often slowly, such as weight, experience, or time (gain experience).