earn back

USAGE SUMMARY

"earn back" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about recovering or regaining something of value that was previously lost. For example: "He worked hard to earn back the money he had lost in the stock market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When it's harmed, it's difficult to earn back.

The New York Times

"We have to earn back our reputation," he said.

The New York Times

Trying to earn back the $100 that he had lost, Chris deposited another $100.

The New York Times - Sports

It thus takes longer for, say, a mobile-telephone company to earn back its initial investment.

The Economist

"If they can't earn back this deficit, retirement benefits will be in jeopardy," he said.

The New York Times

In 2014, we hope to earn back your trust on this important feature.

The New Yorker

Easy money also aids the banks, helping them earn back their still unacknowledged losses.

The New York Times

Manchester and Cambridge have the power to "earn back" taxes to invest in infrastructure.

The Economist

Let's earn back everyone's respect by fighting through the semi-finals like everyone else.

The Guardian - Opinion

It took fourteen years to earn back the fifteen hundred dollars.

The New Yorker

It's going to take more than $1.4 billion to earn back investors' shattered trust.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "earn back" when you want to emphasize the effort required to regain something lost, such as trust, reputation, or financial stability. For example, after a scandal, a company might strive to "earn back" public trust through ethical actions and transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "earn back" when the act of regaining something doesn't require significant effort or change. If you simply find a lost item, "getting it back" is more appropriate than saying you "earned it back".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn back" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a transitive phrasal verb. It requires an object, indicating what is being regained through effort. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

11%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earn back" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrasal verb that signifies regaining something lost through dedicated effort. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly when emphasizing the effort required to recover something. Common usages include regaining trust, reputation, or financial stability. While "regain" or "recover" can serve as alternatives, "earn back" underscores the active effort involved. With frequent appearances in news media and general writing, mastering its usage will improve clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

regain

Similar to "earn back" but doesn't explicitly imply effort; it simply denotes a return.

win back

Specifically suggests winning something again through effort or persuasion, often related to relationships or favor.

recoup

Focuses specifically on recovering monetary losses or investments.

get back

A more general term for retrieving something, lacking the implication of effort found in "earn back".

recover

Implies a general return to a former condition or state, not necessarily limited to financial or reputational aspects.

re-establish

Focuses on rebuilding or confirming something such as a relationship or a reputation

restore

Implies returning something to its original condition, often used in the context of reputation or trust.

reclaim

Suggests asserting a right to something and getting it back.

retrieve

Focuses on actively getting something back, often something tangible.

make up for

Indicates compensating for a loss or mistake, often implying an equivalent exchange.

FAQs

How can I use "earn back" in a sentence?

"Earn back" is used to describe the process of regaining something lost through dedicated effort. For example, "After the data breach, the company worked hard to "earn back" customer trust".

What's a good alternative to "earn back" when discussing financial recovery?

If you're specifically talking about recovering money or investments, you might use the term "recoup". For instance, "The investor hopes to recoup his losses in the next quarter".

Is "earn back" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "earn back" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, you might consider synonyms like "regain" or "restore" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How does "earn back" differ from simply "getting back" something?

"Earn back" implies that effort and change were necessary to regain something, while "getting back" is a more general term that may not carry the same connotation of dedicated work. For example, you "earn back" trust, but you simply get back a lost item.