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Seek vs Earn - What's the difference?

seek | earn |

In transitive terms the difference between seek and earn

is that seek is to try to reach or come to; to go to; to resort to while earn is to be worthy of.

As a noun earn is

alternative form of lang=en.

seek

English

Verb

  • (lb) To try to find, to look for, to search.
  • :
  • *{{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author= Catherine Clabby
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= Focus on Everything , passage=Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.
  • (label) To inquire for; to ask for; to solicit; to beseech.
  • :
  • *Bible, (w) xi. 16
  • *:Others, tempting him, sought of him a sign.
  • *1960 , (Lobsang Rampa), :
  • *:“My, my! It is indeed a long way yet, look you!” said the pleasant woman of whom I sought directions.
  • (lb) To try to acquire or gain; to strive after; to aim at.
  • :
  • *1880 , , :
  • *:But persecution sought the lives of men of this character.
  • *1886 , Constantine Popoff, translation of (Leo Tolstoy)'s :
  • *:I can no longer seek fame or glory, nor can I help trying to get rid of my riches, which separate me from my fellow-creatures.
  • *
  • *:Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat.
  • To go, move, travel (in a given direction).
  • :
  • *, Bk.V:
  • *:Ryght so he sought towarde Sandewyche where he founde before hym many galyard knyghtes
  • (lb) To try to reach or come to; to go to; to resort to.
  • *:
  • *:Seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.
  • *1726 (tr.), (Alexander Pope), ''(Homer)'s (Odyssey), Book II, line 33
  • *:Since great Ulysses sought the Phrygian plains
  • Quotations

    Synonyms

    * look for * search

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l) * (l)

    earn

    English

    Etymology 1

    Old English earnian

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (lb) To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations. It is easily earned repetition to state that Josephine St. Auban's was a presence not to be concealed.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=November 12, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= International friendly: England 1-0 Spain , passage=England will not be catapulted among the favourites for Euro 2012 as a result of this win, but no victory against Spain is earned easily and it is right they take great heart from their efforts as they now prepare to play Sweden at Wembley on Tuesday.}}
  • (lb) To receive payment for work.
  • :
  • :(rfex)
  • (lb) To receive payment for work.
  • :
  • (lb) To cause (someone) to receive payment or reward.
  • :
  • (lb) To be worthy of.
  • :
  • Synonyms
    * (gain through applied effort or work) deserve, merit, garner, win * * * (cause someone to receive payment or reward) yield, make, generate, render
    Derived terms
    * earner * earnings * earn one's keep

    Etymology 2

    Anglo-Saxon irnan to run. See rennet, and compare yearnings.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (UK, dialect, dated) To curdle, as milk.
  • Etymology 3

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To long; to yearn.
  • * Spenser
  • And ever as he rode, his heart did earn / To prove his puissance in battle brave.
  • (obsolete) To grieve.
  • Etymology 4

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Sir Walter Scott)
    (Webster 1913)

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----