earn
B1Neutral (common in all registers)
Definition
Meaning
To receive money as payment for work done or for services provided.
To gain or deserve something (e.g., respect, a reputation) as a result of one's behaviour, qualities, or achievements.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an active process of gaining money or merit through effort or work; not used for receiving money as a gift or by chance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Same positive connotations of merit and deserved gain in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and core in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + earn + [Direct Object (money/reputation)][Subject] + earn + [Direct Object] + [for + Noun Phrase][Subject] + earn + [Indirect Object] + [Direct Object] (less common, e.g., 'His bravery earned him a medal')Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “earn your stripes”
- “earn a crust”
- “earn your keep”
- “a penny earned is a penny saved”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for salaries, revenue, profits, and returns on investment (e.g., 'The company earned £2m last quarter').
Academic
Used metaphorically for gaining qualifications, recognition, or credibility (e.g., 'She earned her doctorate in 2020').
Everyday
Most common for discussing wages, salaries, and personal income (e.g., 'How much do you earn?').
Technical
In finance, for yield or return (e.g., 'The bond earns 5% interest').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He earns £30,000 a year.
- She hopes to earn a first-class degree.
- The investment earns 3% interest.
- His actions have earned him a knighthood.
American English
- She earns $75,000 annually.
- He earned his law degree from Yale.
- The savings account earns 2% APR.
- Her honesty earned her the community's trust.
adjective
British English
- It's hard-earned money.
- She enjoyed her well-earned break.
American English
- He spent his hard-earned cash.
- They took a well-earned vacation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My father earns money.
- She works hard to earn a living.
- He wants to earn more.
- How much do you earn per month?
- She is earning enough to buy a car.
- He earned a promotion through hard work.
- The consultancy earns its fees by delivering rapid results.
- After years of loyal service, she had earned the right to be heard.
- The new policy earned the government considerable criticism.
- His groundbreaking research earned him plaudits from the academic community.
- The asset portfolio is structured to earn a risk-adjusted return.
- They had to earn their place in the finals the hard way.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
You need to LEARN to EARN.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A REWARD FOR EFFORT (You earn what you work for).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'study/learn' (учиться).
- Do not use 'earn' for finding money by chance; use 'find' or 'win'.
- Be careful with the phrase 'to earn a degree' – it translates as 'получить степень', not 'учиться'.
Common Mistakes
- *I earned a prize in the lottery. (Use 'won')
- *He earns a lot of money for his job. (Redundant 'for'; use 'from' or omit)
- Confusion with 'yearn' (to desire strongly).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'earn' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most commonly used for money, it is frequently used metaphorically for non-monetary gains like respect, trust, or a reputation.
'Earn' implies deserved gain through effort. 'Win' implies success in a competition or game. 'Gain' is more general, meaning to obtain or increase something, not necessarily through effort.
No, it's unnatural. Use 'get a job', 'land a job', or 'be offered a job'. You 'earn a salary' from a job.
The most common related noun is 'earnings' (money earned). 'Earner' (e.g., wage-earner) is also used.
Collections
Part of a collection
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.