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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Related Words

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

• earnestly adverb
• earnestness noun

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; placebo ( def. ) ), from Greek arrhabṓn, from Semitic (compare Hebrew ʿērāvôn “security, pledge”); arras ²

Example Sentences

“Anyone who wants to work with us in earnest to solve our affordable housing and homelessness crisis, we want to work with. ... That said, his actions in and around the city leave us with questions.”

From Los Angeles Times

While Shawn Mendes brought out Maggie Rogers for an earnest, resilient duet of “Youth,” Blood Orange and Daniel Caesar each broke down their expansive productions into bedside folk.

From Los Angeles Times

“If I had been on the listing side, I would have required additional earnest money that was non-refundable so there was more of a risk to the buyer.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Rocket, one of the largest U.S. mortgage originators, entered the listings space in earnest with its purchase of Redfin, a brokerage and listings portal, in 2025.

From Barron's

Balancing earnest schmaltz with sharp humor, the show works best as a hangout comedy about an extended friend group with dynamite chemistry, with echoes of previous Bill Lawrence shows like “Scrubs” and “Cougar Town.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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