in earnest
Idioms-
With purposeful or sincere intent, as in We settled down to study in earnest . [c. a.d. 1000]
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even before the summer rush, which begins in earnest in a few days with Memorial Day weekend, California’s most visited national park is seeing enormous crowds.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
U.S. crude prices have averaged almost $99 a barrel since April 1, up 59% from the year-earlier period, and there are few signs energy shipments are beginning to move in earnest through the Persian Gulf.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
He said: "We will begin the government in earnest as a united team, of energy, talent and experience, ready to serve."
From BBC • May 13, 2026
It wasn’t until last year that Lilly started its expansion abroad in earnest.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
At last the train started up in earnest, going slowly at first, then picking up speed.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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.
