in earnest

1. With purposeful or sincere intent, as in We settled down to study in earnest . [c. a.d. 1000]

2. Also, in dead earnest . Serious, determined, as in We thought he was joking, but he was in earnest , or I'm in dead earnest about selling the business . In the variant, from the late 1800s, dead means “completely” or “thoroughly” and is used purely for emphasis. [c. a.d. 1000]

Example Sentences

The third-quarter earnings season, which kicks off in earnest next week, is likely to have a greater impact on markets in the absence of major economic data releases, investors say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Instead, many are shifting their focus to the third-quarter earnings season that is about to kick off in earnest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That same conundrum is being faced by companies across the U.S.—and earnings season, which starts in earnest later this week, will reveal how Corporate America is trying to solve it.

Read more on Barron's

By October, they’d smoothed out the rough edges and Sparks began writing in earnest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The British number one will soon begin preparations in earnest for next season, having only been able to play one singles match since Wimbledon because of bone bruising in his left arm.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• actively 
• earnestly 
• passionately 
• sincerely 
• vigorously