View synonyms for earnest

earnest

[ ur-nist ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

serious and zealous in intention, purpose, or effort:
an earnest worker.
Synonyms: ambitious, industrious, determined, purposeful, intent, fervent
Antonyms: frivolous
showing depth and sincerity of feeling:
earnest words; an earnest entreaty.
seriously important; demanding or receiving serious attention.

noun

seriousness and zealousness:
to speak in earnest.

earnest

[ ur-nist ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.
Law. earnest money ( def ).
anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.

earnest

/ ˈɜːnɪst /

adjective

serious in mind or intention
an earnest student
showing or characterized by sincerity of intention
an earnest promise
demanding or receiving serious attention

noun

seriousness
in earnest
with serious or sincere intentions

earnest

/ ˈɜːnɪst /

noun

a part or portion of something given in advance as a guarantee of the remainder
Also calledearnest money contract law something given, usually a nominal sum of money, to confirm a contract
any token of something to follow; pledge; assurance

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Derived Forms

ˈearnestly, adverb
ˈearnestness, noun

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Other Words From

ear·nest·ly adverb
ear·nest·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of earnest¹

Old English eornost; related to Old High German ernust seriousness, Old Norse ern energetic, efficient, Gothic arniba secure

Origin of earnest²

C13: from Old French erres pledges, plural of erre earnest money, from Latin arrha, shortened from arrabō pledge, from Greek arrabon, from Hebrew `ērābhōn pledge, from `ārabh he pledged

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Idioms and Phrases

see in earnest .

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Jessica watched a raft of online videos and training began in earnest.

From BBC

The Cymru Connection, where James has 60 seconds to find a mutual connection, began in earnest when a Welshman living in Japan called James' Radio 5 Live show and podcast last year.

From BBC

Programmes resembling DEI first emerged in earnest in the US in the 1960s, in the wake of the civil rights movement that fought to protect and expand the rights of black Americans.

From BBC

When I moved to L.A. after 12 years in England, I had a lot of time to myself, and reconnecting with my earnest North American side was nice.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s executive orders fulfill months of campaign pledges to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in American workplaces — initiatives that, for many companies, were only adopted in earnest following the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

From Salon

Related Words

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

earner earnestly

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