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to earn

to earn

780 1.0
To get money for work you do or from a business
  • verb
  • /ɜrn/
translation icon : ganar
  • Because you know how I earn my living.
  • earn money
  • earn a living
  • earn income

You know, I'll never earn what Dwayne Johnson earns.

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Examples

  • Actually, I was kind of proud to earn my own money for a change.

  • We consume, we shop, we want to earn more money to show our status.

  • So the question is, how much interest will we earn in two years?

  • Or are you just down here to earn a commission?

  • I must go and earn my living.

  • It's time you earned your keep.

  • The truth is that you can only earn money after you're successful.

  • My husband works so hard and earns so little.

  • With every purchase, I'm earning cash back thanks to Upside.

  • After working overtime all month, I was able to earn a nice bonus in my paycheck.

Synonyms

to make
vsto earn
1.3

To earn money from work or business

focuses on receiving money as payment or as returns on investments
to gain
vsto earn
1.4

To get something useful, often by effort, like money or skills

is limited to receiving money as payment or profit rather than general obtaining
to pay
vsto earn
  • Specialized
5.2

To give money as interest or profit

is about receiving money generally, not only fixed financial returns from investments
to make money
vsto earn
477 1.2

To get money by working or running a business

is used more generally for receiving money from work or investments
to clear
vsto earn
  • Specialized
154 6.0

To earn a net profit after expenses

is the general act of getting money, not limited to net figures or debt settlement
to profit
vsto earn
140 3.2

To get an advantage from something

focuses specifically on receiving money as payment or investment returns
to bring in
vsto earn
123 2.8

Earn money from a thing or activity

covers receiving money more generally, not only fixed sale amounts
to make a fortune
vsto earn
54 3.2

To earn a lot of money, often in a short time

refers to receiving money in general rather than large or rapid gains
to realize
vsto earn
  • Specialized
46 6.7

To turn things you own into money

refers to receiving money widely, not limited to selling assets for cash
to earn a living
vsto earn
33 2.2

To make money to support yourself

is the broad act of receiving money, not limited to personal support or livelihood
25 2.2

To earn money by having a job

is the general notion of receiving money, not only through employment
to take in
vsto earn
  • Informal
25 4.9

Earn money from work or sales

is the neutral verb for receiving money in many contexts
to turn a profit
vsto earn
19 3.2

To earn more money than you spend running a business or project

is about receiving money broadly, not specifically about covering costs
to pull in
vsto earn
14 4.1

To earn money from work or business

is the broader verb for receiving money across many sources or activities
to earn crust
vsto earn
  • UK
9.0

To make enough money to live

is the general term for receiving money, not specifically for everyday colloquial support

Idioms

To gain a respected place in a group by working hard

9.0

To make enough money to live

3.4

Do enough work, paid or not, to pay for food and a place to live

Phrasal Verbs

To make money to support yourself

Compounds

A system that takes income tax from workers' pay before they receive it

4.1

A student loan plan that limits monthly payments to part of your income and may forgive the rest after years

How Much Money

to get rich quick
  • Informal
3 6.2
to earn
780 1.0

Surface Forms

earn infinitive
earned past
earned past participle
earning present participle
earns third person singular

Etymology

The word earn comes from an old English word that meant 'to work for' or 'gain'. So to earn money is to receive payment as a result of your work or business.