earn
verb
ɜːn 
ɜːrn 
1 [transitive, intransitive] to get money for work that you doearn (something) He earns about $40000 a year.She earned a living as a part-time secretary.She must earn a fortune (= earn a lot of money).All the children are earning now.earn somebody something His victory in the tournament earned him $50000.2 [transitive] earn something to get money as profit or interest on money you lend, have in a bank, etcYour money would earn more in a high-interest account.3 [transitive] to get something that you deserve, usually because of something good you have done or because of the good qualities you haveearn something He earned a reputation as an expert on tax law.As a teacher, she had earned the respect of her students.I need a rest. I think I've earned it, don't you?She's having a well-earned rest this week.earn somebody something His outstanding ability earned him a place on the team.Idioms
earn a/your crust
(British English, informal) to earn enough money to live onI've been an actor for 20 years, earning a crust wherever I can.earn your keep
1 to do useful or helpful things in return for being allowed to live or stay somewhere2 to be worth the amount of time or money that is being spentHe felt he no longer deserved such a high salary. He just wasn't earning his keep.
Usage note: FinanceIncomeearn money/cash/(informal) a fortunemake money/a fortune/(informal) a killing on the stock marketacquire/inherit/amass wealth/a fortunebuild up funds/savingsget/receive/leave (somebody) an inheritance/a legacylive on a low wage/a fixed income/a pensionget/receive/draw/collect a pensiondepend/be dependent on (British English) benefits/(North American English) welfare/social securityExpenditurespend money/your savings/(informal) a fortune on…invest/put your savings in…throw away/waste/(informal) shell out money on…lose your money/inheritance/pensionuse up/(informal) wipe out all your savingspay (in) cashuse/pay by a credit/debit cardpay by/make out a/write somebody a/accept a (British English) cheque/(US) checkchange/exchange money/currency (British English) traveller's cheques/(US) traveler's checksgive/pay/leave (somebody) a depositBankshave/hold/open/close/freeze a bank account/an accountcredit/debit/pay something into/take money out of your accountdeposit money/funds in your accountwithdraw money/cash/£30 from an ATM, etc.(formal) make a deposit/withdrawalfind/go to/use (especially North American English) an ATM/(British English) a cash machine/dispenserbe in credit/in debit/in the black/in the red/overdrawnPersonal financemanage/handle/plan/run/(especially British English) sort out your financesplan/manage/work out/stick to a budgetoffer/extend credit (to somebody)arrange/take out a loan/an overdraftpay back/repay money/a loan/a debtpay for something in (especially British English) instalments/(North American English usually) installmentsFinancial difficultiesget into debt/financial difficultiesbe short of/(informal) be strapped for cashrun out of/owe moneyface/get/(informal) be landed with a bill for £…can't afford the cost of…/payments/rentfall behind with/(especially North American English) fall behind on the mortgage/repayments/rentincur/run up/accumulate debtstackle/reduce/settle your debts