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

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

The software slump began in earnest at the start of the year, when months of underperformance culminated in a sweeping selloff.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

The topic of how to handle the crisis will be the primary focus of the Spring Meetings, which begin in earnest next week.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Made in the earnest style of a disease-of-the-week television movie without ever tipping over into winking irony, the film is both funny and tender.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

“We think the inventory will grow as drilling continues in earnest, especially at the underground deposits,” Hissey says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

“I want to learn,” she said in earnest.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

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