earnest

¹

[ ur-nist ]

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.

noun

1. seriousness and zealousness:

   to speak in earnest.

earnest

²

[ ur-nist ]

noun

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

earnest

¹

/ ˈɜːnɪst /

noun

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

earnest

²

/ 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

noun

1. seriousness
2. in earnest
   with serious or sincere intentions

Derived Forms

• ˈearnestly, adverb
• ˈearnestness, noun

Other Words From

• ear·nest·ly adverb
• ear·nest·ness noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of earnest¹

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

Origin of earnest²

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

Idioms and Phrases

see in earnest .

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.

Example Sentences

There has been a great deal of discourse regarding the fate of "The Resistance," the umbrella term that started in 2017 as a description of liberals en masse, but soon devolved into a term of derision for those perceived as overly earnest and easily excitable in their outrage over Trump.

From Salon

Earnest and genuine in its storytelling, it's populated with fully realized characters who only somewhat adhere to Schur’s closet of personality types.

From Salon

The worst of the winds were expected across Northern California Wednesday, though forecasters said their primary concern remained the amount and duration of the rains that were also expected to begin in earnest Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

Haddad, an actor with cerebral palsy who uses a walker on stage, plays Georges and Albin’s earnest son Jean-Michel with grit.

From Los Angeles Times

That pursuit is set to begin in earnest this week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation unauthorized to speak publicly, with Dodgers officials scheduled to meet with Soto and his agent Scott Boras on Tuesday, as MLB.com first reported.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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