What does "earnest" mean?

1. (serious and sincere) showing that you are very serious and honest about your feelings or intentions. 2. (in a serious way) used in the phrase 'in earnest' to mean that someone is being serious rather than joking. 3. (a pledge or deposit) something given as a sign or promise that more will come later, like a small payment.

How do you use "earnest"?

Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'in earnest'. Often used in the phrase 'earnest money' in legal contexts.

earnest

adj. · n.

US //ˈɝnɪst// UK //ˈɜːnəst// earnest

1 serious and sincere (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

showing that you are very serious and honest about your feelings or intentions.

characterised by a sincere and intense conviction; showing deep sincerity and a lack of irony.

Example

The student made an earnest effort to improve her grades before the final exam.

Example

Despite his lack of experience, his earnest plea for a second chance convinced the committee to reconsider their initial decision.
- frivolous
- insincere
- ironic
2 in a serious way (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

used in the phrase 'in earnest' to mean that someone is being serious rather than joking.

a state of being serious or sincere; almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in earnest'.

Example

The work began in earnest once the funding was finally approved.

Example

What had started as a light-hearted debate began in earnest as the participants realised the legal implications of the policy.

Usage

Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'in earnest'.
- seriousness
- sincerity
- jest
- play

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3 a pledge or deposit (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Archaic Law

something given as a sign or promise that more will come later, like a small payment.

a portion of something, such as a sum of money, given in advance as a guarantee or pledge of more to follow.

Example

They paid a small amount as an earnest of their intention to buy the house.

Example

The initial shipment was merely an earnest of the vast resources the empire promised to provide to its allies.

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'earnest money' in legal contexts.

Etymology 1

From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”). The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).

Etymology 2

Uncertain; apparently related to erres. Compare also arles.

Etymology 3

From earn + -est.

Word family

Adjectiveearnest
Adverbearnestly