earning
- 1Present participle and gerund of earn.
He spent years earning the trust of his coworkers before being promoted.
Earning a degree while working full-time takes real discipline.
Note
The -ing form does two jobs. After be it builds the progressive (she is earning more this year). As a gerund it heads a noun phrase (earning a degree takes discipline). Either way it keeps the verb's grammar: it takes an object when the thing gained is named (trust, wages, a reward), and none in plain talk of being paid. It also carries an archaic British dialect use of earn: curdling milk for cheese.
earning is a form of earn
earn, verb: To get something such as praise, success, or a reputation because of your work, actions, or qualities. Full entry
- Spelling
- earn → earning: add -ing
Use it in a sentence
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