# earnest

/ˈɝnɪst/ (US) · /ˈɜːnəst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/earnest
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. serious and sincere

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The student made an earnest effort to improve her grades before the final exam.
- Despite his lack of experience, his earnest plea for a second chance convinced the committee to reconsider their initial decision.

### 2. in a serious way

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

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

### 3. a pledge or deposit

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

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

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

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

## Examples

- She made an earnest effort to fix the mistake.
- The young activist gave an earnest speech about the importance of protecting the local forest.
- Despite his lack of experience, his earnest commitment to the project eventually won over the more cynical members of the board.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.