Earnings — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

plural noun /ˈər-niŋz/ earn·ings

Meaning & Definition of Earnings

Earnings (plural noun)

  1. something (such as wages) earned
  2. the balance of revenue after deduction of costs and expenses

Earnings (plural noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property

    "earnings from her babysitting jobs that are being put away for college"

    similar: gain(s), income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield
    related: killing, windfall, salary, take-home pay, tips, wages, bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithal
    near: charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay

  2. the amount of money left when expenses are subtracted from the total amount received

    "after subtracting what we spent on music and refreshments, the earnings from our charity gala were still impressive"

    similar: gain, lucre, net, payoff, proceeds, profit, return
    related: cleanup, killing, windfall, bottom line, gross, sales, compensation, emolument, income, pay, payment, remittal, requital, salary, wages, interest, revenue, yield
    near: charge, cost, disbursement, expenditure, expense, loss, outgo, outlay

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Earnings

The most common words with a similar meaning to Earnings:

gain(s), income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield, gain, lucre, net, payoff

Related Words for Earnings

killing, windfall, salary, take-home pay, tips, wages, bankroll, capital, coffers, exchequer, finances, funds, money, pocket, pocketbook, resources, wherewithal, cleanup, bottom line, gross, sales, compensation, emolument, pay, payment, remittal, requital, interest

Near Antonyms of Earnings

charge, cost, disbursement, expenditures, expenses, outgo, outlay, expenditure, expense, loss

Origin & Etymology of Earnings

First known use: 1594

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Earnings

Words & Phrases Containing Earnings

price-earnings ratio

Frequently Asked Questions about Earnings

What does "Earnings" mean?

"Earnings" means something (such as wages) earned. As a plural noun, it is defined as: something (such as wages) earned. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Earnings"?

Other words for "Earnings" include gain(s), income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue and yield. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Earnings" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Earnings"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Earnings". Common alternatives include gain(s), income, incoming(s), proceeds, profit, return, revenue, yield, gain and lucre.

How do you use "Earnings" in a sentence?

Examples of "Earnings" in a sentence: "earnings from her babysitting jobs that are being put away for college"; "after subtracting what we spent on music and refreshments, the earnings from our charity gala were still impressive".

Is "Earnings" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Earnings" is a plural noun.

Is "Earnings" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Earnings" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Earnings"?

"Earnings" is pronounced /ˈər-niŋz/ and divided into syllables as earn·ings.

What is the origin of the word "Earnings"?

First known use: 1594.