Trivia Time

Who popularized the word earnest in the play The Importance of Being Earnest?

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earnest

¹ American  

[ur-nist] / ˈɜr nɪst /

adjective

1. 

   serious and zealous in intention, purpose, or effort.

   an earnest worker.

   Synonyms:

   ambitious, industrious, determined, purposeful, intent, fervent

   Antonyms:

   frivolous

2. showing depth and sincerity of feeling.

   earnest words; an earnest entreaty.

3. seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.

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noun

1. seriousness and zealousness.

   to speak in earnest.

earnest ² American  

[ur-nist] / ˈɜr nɪst /

noun

1. a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.

2. Law. earnest money.

3. anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.

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earnest ¹ British  

/ ˈɜːnɪst /

adjective

1. serious in mind or intention

   an earnest student

2. showing or characterized by sincerity of intention

   an earnest promise

3. demanding or receiving serious attention

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noun

1. seriousness

2. with serious or sincere intentions

earnest ² British  

/ ˈɜːnɪst /

noun

1. a part or portion of something given in advance as a guarantee of the remainder

2. Also called: earnest money. contract law something given, usually a nominal sum of money, to confirm a contract

3. any token of something to follow; pledge; assurance

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earnest Idioms  

1. see in earnest.

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Synonym Usage

Earnest, resolute, serious, sincere imply having qualities of depth and firmness. Earnest implies having a purpose and being steadily and soberly eager in pursuing it: an earnest student. Resolute adds a quality of determination: resolute in defending the right. Serious implies having depth and a soberness of attitude that contrasts with gaiety and frivolity; it may include the qualities of both earnestness and resolution: serious and thoughtful. Sincere suggests genuineness, trustworthiness, and absence of superficiality: a sincere interest in music.

Other Word Forms

• earnestness
  noun
• earnestly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of earnest¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English erneste, Old English eornoste (adjective); Middle English ernest, Old English eornost (noun); cognate with Dutch, German ernest

Origin of earnest²

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ernes(t), alteration of Old French erres, plural of erre “earnest money,” from Latin arr(h)a, short for arr(h)abō (perhaps by misunderstanding -bō as a future tense ending; cf. placebo ( def. )), from Greek arrhabṓn, from Semitic (compare Hebrew ʿērāvôn “security, pledge”); cf. arras ²

Explanation

If you are earnest, it means you are serious about something. Your parents might not want you to drop out of school to follow some fly-by-night dream, but if you're earnest about wanting a career in show biz, they'll support you. If you are earnest, you pursue your purpose in a steady, sincere, and eager way. The phrase in earnest uses earnest as a noun, as in, "Once you stop fooling around and start studying in earnest, you'll find you learn the material quickly." Oscar Wilde's classic play The Importance of Being Earnest plays on the fact that Ernest is also a man's name.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

earnest

Haskins played the earnest and beloved Mr. Belding across the “Saved by the Bell” franchise for 12 years, from 1988 to 2000.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026

Mr. Meyer is hopelessly earnest and stubbornly, inexorably optimistic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

He gives off Boy Scout vibes with his earnest tones and short haircut.

From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2026

Macro and geopolitical news are likely to sway financial markets until the next earnings season starts in earnest in mid-October.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

The question was pointed, meant as an insult or at least a challenge, but it also came from an earnest place.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• ardent
• diligent
• fervent
• heartfelt
• impassioned
• passionate
• purposeful
• sincere
• urgent