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Synonyms

earnestly

American  
[ur-nist-lee] / ˈɜr nɪst li /

adverb

  1. with deep and sincere feeling; seriously.

    After earnestly delivering a sermon on helping people in need, the pastor was gratified to see the record number of donations to the shelter.

Etymology

Origin of earnestly

First recorded before 1000; earnest 1 ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Is there a part for me in it?” she asks earnestly.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Politics has of course always had a mucky and brutal side to it, as well as one of public service which works earnestly to improve people's lives.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

It’s a stunning moment, and one of the show’s most memorable scenes, because it earnestly captures the silent yearning that comprises so much of the gay experience, especially for closeted gay men.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2026

"I have been waiting more earnestly than anyone else," group leader RM wrote in the letter.

From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026

I needed to keep moving, but it felt nice sitting there with the woman now earnestly massaging my palms in a way that was so sweet, even though it seemed strange, too.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.