earned

verb

past tense of earn
1
as in won
to receive as return for effort during my teen years I earned pocket money by mowing lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deserved
to be or make worthy of (as a reward or punishment) you've earned the afternoon off after all that hard work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of earned Singletary took a pay cut to the minimum salary to stay this offseason, and then earned his spot on the roster. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Bartko, who earned degrees in civil engineering and law in Belarus, fled her home country on a student visa to avoid political persecution over her vocal opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 Still, Moon had his moments this summer and earned a sack in the Panthers’ preseason finale against the Houston Texans. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026 Until recently, Federer was a billionaire, having amassed a fortune almost double what Nadal earned during his career. — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 But the same steadfast pursuit that’s placed the attorney at the center of nearly every call for racial justice in the past decade has earned Crump more than a few detractors. — Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The reference to Swift and Travis Kelce‘s July 3rd wedding earned a roar of applause from the crowd who were no doubt aware of Styles’s history with the pop superstar. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Aug. 2026 Wardle himself earned Eagle Scout, the highest rank available, in 2020. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026 Directed by Lee Cheol-ha and starring Uhm Jung-hwa, Park Sung-woong, Lee Sang-yun, and Sooyoung, the film has now earned $2 million. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for earned
  1. won
  2. deserved
  3. gained
  4. garnered
  5. reaped
  6. obtained
  7. made
  8. got
Verb
  • Antioch’s defensive line — senior Willie Hamilton and Harrison Victor and junior Camryn Mowery — won the trenches the rest of the way.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The project won the top prize at Guangxi’s provincial science and technology awards on August 24.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of won
Verb
  • Also, last year’s team deserved the opportunity to defend its title.
    — James L. Edwards III, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other views and opinions may have been right or wrong, but those voicing them deserved to be heard.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of deserved
Verb
  • When glamour replaced natural as the look of choice, hair—and its power to call attention, decorate, and define—gained new potency.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In Waters, the project has gained a prominent activist and supporter of Palestinian liberation.
    — Ed Meza, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of gained
Verb
  • In the latest survey from the University of New Hampshire, Manzur garnered 34% to Pappas’s 47%.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Her cycle of resurrections, the highs and lows, didn’t seem to change her much over the years, even as the highs garnered her over half a billion dollars.
    — Shima Oliaee, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of garnered
Verb
  • The company reaped about $900 million with its initial public offering.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • But the programs that have stuck to the Southland have reaped the benefits.
    — Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of reaped
Verb
  • The counterclaims, obtained by TMZ, said the couple paid West $60,000 during the pregnancy under an agreement that addressed termination.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • According to police records obtained by The Athletic, four luxury bags totaling more than $300,000 were stolen.
    — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of obtained
Verb
  • In the lawsuit, investors alleged they were led to believe that a groundbreaking Wondermind app would be made, advertising deals would be struck, and celebrity cover stories were already underway.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Clinker is a dark gray, pebble-sized material made by heating limestone and clay in a kiln to about 2,642 degrees Fahrenheit (1,450 degrees Celsius).
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of made
Verb
  • When the islanders first got their phones back while in Fiji, Melanie had a video call with her sister in an unseen clip.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The San Francisco 49ers got creative in managing some tough cuts Sunday afternoon to get down to a 53-man roster, letting go of their punter and long snapper.
    — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of got

Browse Nearby Words

earn
earned
earnest
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Cite this Entry

“Earned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/earned. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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