Earn vs. Receive — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 16, 2024
"Earn" implies gaining something through effort or work, whereas "receive" refers to simply getting something, often without specific effort.
Difference Between Earn and Receive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
To earn something usually involves exerting effort, labor, or demonstrating skills that justify receiving a reward or payment, while to receive something can happen passively and does not necessarily involve personal effort or merit.
Earnings are often seen in contexts like wages from jobs or profits from business ventures, highlighting the result of active involvement and work, whereas receiving can occur in various situations like inheriting money or getting a gift, where the recipient's actions aren't directly tied to the gain.
Earn implies a direct correlation between actions and results; you earn wages by working hours, whereas receive is broader and includes many scenarios where no direct action is required to gain something, such as receiving news or catching a ball.
In financial contexts, to earn suggests a buildup of value or entitlement, such as earning interest on savings, emphasizing accumulation through one's own resources or efforts, whereas receiving money might not reflect any personal contribution, such as receiving a donation.
When discussing achievements, earn reflects merit and effort, like earning a diploma, underscoring achievement through hard work and perseverance, whereas receive might be used for awards or honors bestowed upon a person, focusing on the act of being given something as recognition by others.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To gain something through effort
To simply get something
Associated Action
Active effort, work
Passive acceptance
Examples
Salaries, bonuses
Gifts, inheritances
Result Relation
Direct result of one's actions
No direct causality needed
Contextual Usage
Financial gains, achievements
Broader range of scenarios
Compare with Definitions
Earn
To merit as a natural consequence.
Poor planning may earn you more trouble.
Receive
To greet or welcome.
They received the guests at the door.
Earn
To gain as due return for effort.
She earned her paycheck through hard work.
Receive
To come into possession of.
I received a package yesterday.
Earn
To acquire through merit.
He earned respect for his honesty.
Receive
To act as a receptacle or container for.
The charity receives donations throughout the year.
Earn
To gain money in return for labor or service.
She earns a living as a freelance writer.
Receive
To be subjected to or exposed to.
The proposal received a lot of criticism.
Earn
To win something as a reward.
He earned the top spot in the competition.
Receive
To register or take in sensory input.
The ears receive sound.
Earn
Obtain (money) in return for labour or services
I earn £10 an hour working in the shop
He earns his living as a lorry driver
Receive
To take or acquire (something given or offered); get or be given
Receive a present.
Earn
To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work
Earned money by mowing lawns.
Receive
To be the person who gets (something sent or transmitted)
Receive an email.
Earn
To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action
She earned a reputation as a hard worker.
Receive
(Sports) To catch or get possession of (a pass or a kicked ball, for example).
Earn
To yield as return or profit
A savings account that earns interest on deposited funds.
Receive
To have (a title, for example) bestowed on oneself.
Earn
(transitive) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
You can have the s'mores: you earned them, clearing the walkway of snow so well.
Receive
To hear or see (information, for example)
Receive bad news.
Earn
(transitive) To receive payment for work.
He earns seven million dollars a year as CEO.
My bank account is only earning one percent interest.
Receive
To perceive or acquire mentally
Receive a bad impression.
Earn
(intransitive) To receive payment for work.
Now that you are earning, you can start paying me rent.
Receive
To regard with approval or disapproval
Ideas that were received well.
Earn
(transitive) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.
My CD earns me six percent!
Receive
To listen to and acknowledge formally and authoritatively
The judge received their oath of allegiance.
Earn
(transitive) To achieve by being worthy of.
To earn a spot in the top 20
Receive
To take in and convert (radio waves, for example) into an electrical signal or into an audio or visual output.
Earn
To curdle (milk), especially in the cheesemaking process.
Receive
To experience or be subjected to; meet with
Receive sympathetic treatment.
Earn
Of milk: to curdle, espcially in the cheesemaking process.
Receive
To have inflicted or imposed on oneself
Receive a penalty.
Earn
To strongly long or yearn (for something or to do something).
Receive
To bear the weight or force of; support
The beams receive the full weight of the walls and roof.
Earn
To grieve.
Receive
To take or intercept the impact of (a blow, for example).
Earn
To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not).
The high reputeWhich he through hazard huge must earn.
Receive
To be exposed to or withstand
The hillside cottage receives strong winds.
Earn
To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn honors or laurels.
I earn that [what] I eat.
The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my brow.
Receive
To take in, hold, or contain
A tank that receives rainwater.
Earn
To grieve.
Receive
To admit or accept
Receive new members.
Earn
To long; to yearn.
And ever as he rode, his heart did earnTo prove his puissance in battle brave.
Receive
To greet, welcome, or be visited by
Receive guests.
Earn
To curdle, as milk.
Receive
To acquire or get something; be a recipient.
Earn
Earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages;
How much do you make a month in your new job?
She earns a lot in her new job
This merger brought in lots of money
He clears $5,000 each month
Receive
To admit or welcome guests or visitors
The couple are not receiving this winter.
Earn
Acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
Receive
To partake of the Eucharist.
Receive
To convert incoming electromagnetic signals into sound, light, or electrical signals.
Receive
(Sports) To receive a pass or a kicked ball, for example.
Receive
To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, etc.; to accept; to be given something.
She received many presents for her birthday.
Receive
(law) To take goods knowing them to be stolen.
Receive
To act as a host for guests; to give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, etc.
To receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.
Receive
To incur (an injury).
I received a bloody nose from the collision.
Receive
To allow (a custom, tradition, etc.); to give credence or acceptance to.
Receive
(telecommunications) To detect a signal from a transmitter.
Receive
(sports) To be in a position to take possession, or hit back the ball.
Receive
To be in a position to hit back a service.
Receive
(American football) To be in a position to catch a forward pass.
Receive
To accept into the mind; to understand.
Receive
(telecommunications) An operation in which data is received.
Receive
To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, or the like; to accept; as, to receive money offered in payment of a debt; to receive a gift, a message, or a letter.
Receyven all in gree that God us sent.
Receive
Hence: To gain the knowledge of; to take into the mind by assent to; to give admission to; to accept, as an opinion, notion, etc.; to embrace.
Our hearts receive your warnings.
The idea of solidity we receive by our touch.
Receive
To allow, as a custom, tradition, or the like; to give credence or acceptance to.
Many other things there be which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots.
Receive
To give admittance to; to permit to enter, as into one's house, presence, company, and the like; as, to receive a lodger, visitor, ambassador, messenger, etc.
They kindled a fire, and received us every one.
Receive
To admit; to take in; to hold; to contain; to have capacity for; to be able to take in.
The brazen altar that was before the Lord was too little to receive the burnt offerings.
Receive
To be affected by something; to suffer; to be subjected to; as, to receive pleasure or pain; to receive a wound or a blow; to receive damage.
Against his will he can receive no harm.
Receive
To take from a thief, as goods known to be stolen.
Receive
To bat back (the ball) when served.
Who, if we knewWhat we receive, would either not acceptLife offered, or soon beg to lay it down.
Receive
To receive visitors; to be at home to receive calls; as, she receives on Tuesdays.
Receive
To return, or bat back, the ball when served; as, it is your turn to receive.
Receive
Get something; come into possession of;
Receive payment
Receive a gift
Receive letters from the front
Receive
Receive a specified treatment (abstract);
These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation
His movie received a good review
I got nothing but trouble for my good intentions
Receive
Recieve (perceptual input);
Pick up a signal
Receive
Of mental or physical states or experiences;
Get an idea
Experience vertigo
Get nauseous
Undergo a strange sensation
The chemical undergoes a sudden change
The fluid undergoes shear
Receive injuries
Have a feeling
Receive
Express willingness to have in one's home or environs;
The community warmly received the refugees
Receive
Accept as true or valid;
He received Christ
Receive
Bid welcome to; greet upon arrival
Receive
Convert into sounds or pictures;
Receive the incoming radio signals
Receive
Experience as a reaction;
My proposal met with much opposition
Receive
Have or give a reception;
The lady is receiving Sunday morning
Receive
Receive as a retribution or punishment;
He got 5 years in prison
Receive
Partake of the Holy Eucharist sacrament
Receive
Regard favorably or with disapproval;
Her new collection of poems was not well received
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to receive something?
Receiving something refers to simply getting it, without the necessity of effort.
What are common scenarios for earning?
Common scenarios include earning wages through employment or earning interest from investments.
Can you receive without earning?
Yes, one can receive gifts or inheritances without any personal effort or merit.
What does it mean to earn something?
Earning something means gaining it through effort or work.
Can you earn without receiving?
Yes, you can earn something like respect or a reputation without literally receiving something tangible.
What are common scenarios for receiving?
Scenarios include receiving gifts, winning a lottery, or inheriting property.
Is receiving passive?
Typically, receiving is considered more passive compared to earning, which is active.
How do investments earn money?
Investments earn money through interest, dividends, or capital gains.
Is earning always related to money?
No, earning can also relate to abstract rewards like respect or qualifications.
How do businesses earn?
Businesses earn by providing goods or services in exchange for money.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
