Earn is a verb meaning to receive something in return for work, effort, or merit. It also conveys attaining something through a process of effort, such as earning a reputation or income. The word implies active acquisition rather than mere receipt, highlighting achievement earned through persistence or performance.
"She worked overtime to earn enough money for the trip."
"He earned a promotion after finishing the project ahead of schedule."
"The team earned the trophy with a decisive victory."
"Her honesty earned her the community's trust."
Earn derives from Old English earnian, related to the Proto-Germanic *arnjanan, meaning to earn, to obtain, or to acquire. The root is connected to Old Norse a- and Germanic cognates that imply effort and attainment. In Middle English, the form evolved toward earnen and later earned as the simple past tense and past participle. The semantic shift centers on achieving benefit through effort rather than passive reception, which is why contemporary usage emphasizes merit-based acquisition. Over time, the word broadened from material gains to intangible rewards (reputation, trust, status). Early records show phrases like earnen worthe as a concept of earning value through labor, with popularity rising in economic and social contexts during the late medieval to early modern periods. Today, earn remains a compact vehicle for the idea that value is generated by personal or collective endeavor.
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Help others use "Earn" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Earn" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Earn" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Earn"
-arn sounds
-urn sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
/ɝːn/ (US) or /ɜːn/ (UK/AU). It’s a single syllable with a mid-to-open central vowel followed by an alveolar nasal. Start with a relaxed jaw, pull the tongue back toward the center for /ɝ/ or /ɜː/, then close with an /n/ release. Keep the /r/ sound minimalist in non-rhotic UK/AU accents; in US, the /ɝ/ is rhotacized. Quick tip: avoid a prolonged vowel—aim for a crisp, short /ɝ/ or /ɜː/ before the /n/.”,
Common errors: (1) pronouncing it like ‘urn’ with a silent ‘e’ or misplacing the vowel as a lax /ə/; (2) inserting an extra consonant or prolonging the vowel, giving a diphthong that's not present; (3) treating it as multiple syllables. Correction: use a tight, single-syllable /ɝn/ or /ɜːn/ with a quick nasal stop. Ensure the lips are relaxed, the tongue sits mid-central, and the /n/ follows immediately without an audible pause. Listen for the short, clipped vowel in fast speech.”,
In US English, /ɝn/ shows rhotacized vowel with a strong /ɝ/ followed by /n/. In UK English, /ɜːn/ uses a long, mid-central vowel without rhoticity, so the /r/ is not pronounced in most dialects. Australian English typically uses /ɜːn/ or a centralized vowel, similar to UK but often with a slightly shorter vowel and a softer /n/ release. Across all, the final /n/ remains, but the vowel quality and rhoticity vary; tempo is often brisk in casual speech.”,
The challenge is coordinating a compact central vowel with a rapid nasal consonant. The US /ɝ/ requires a rhotic, curved tongue shape, while UK/AU /ɜː/ relies on a tense, longer vowel without rhoticity. Speakers may overemphasize vowel length or insert an extraneous /w/ or /r/. The key is a sharp, final /n/ after a compact vowel, avoiding vowel-diphthong creep or trailing off. Focus on the single-syllable integrity of /ɝn/ or /ɜːn/.”,
Earn combines a mid-central vowel with a nasal consonant without a coda cluster, making it a classic single-syllable English word that hinges on vowel quality rather than complex consonants. The word’s variance across rhotic vs non-rhotic dialects makes it a common SEO target for pronunciation guides, with questions about vowel length, rhoticity, and the precise tongue position for /ɝ/ vs /ɜː/. It’s also frequently coupled with phrases like “earn money” or “earn a living,” guiding practical usage context in search intent.
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