Word
earnestly
Phoneticsearnest·ly
US/ˈɝnəstɫi/
UK/ˈɜːnəstli/
Definition
adv. in a serious and honest way. You use this when someone is trying very hard to do something right or to be sincere.
adv. in a sincere, serious, or earnest manner. Often used to describe the manner in which a request is made or a task is performed.
Examples
“He asked for my help earnestly.”
“The young student applied for the scholarship earnestly, hoping to prove his dedication to the field.”
“The committee listened to the testimony earnestly, aware that the witness's sincerity could significantly influence the final outcome of the investigation.”
Examples
simple
“He asked for my help earnestly.”
contextual
“The young student applied for the scholarship earnestly, hoping to prove his dedication to the field.”
complex
“The committee listened to the testimony earnestly, aware that the witness's sincerity could significantly influence the final outcome of the investigation.”
Real-World Examples
“In his post, which has been viewed more than 10 million times, Hubinger said "we really do earnestly believe" AI poses a species-ending risk to humans.” “It’s a slick presentation and earnestly performed, with an important story to tell.” Etymology
From Middle English ernestly, from Old English eornostlīċe (“earnestly, strictly”), equivalent to earnest + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/earnestly