adjective

earnest

/ˈɜːrnəst/ · say it: ER·nust

sincere and serious in intention

In Personality & Character

In more detail

1. (adjective) showing sincere and intense feeling or effort; not joking or pretending

2. (noun) money given as a sign of good faith or commitment to a deal

Examples

1. She made an earnest attempt to learn the language before moving to the country.
2. The buyer paid an earnest deposit to show they were serious about purchasing the house.

How to use earnest

As an adjective, earnest describes sincere conviction or dedicated effort, often implying an emotional or moral seriousness that distinguishes it from merely being serious or committed. It typically conveys a positive tone and is commonly used in literary or formal contexts. The phrase 'in earnest' means 'seriously' or 'in genuine form.'

Common phrases

earnest effort
earnest attempt
earnest desire
in earnest
earnest plea

Synonyms

sincere · heartfelt · genuine · serious · committed

Opposites

insincere · frivolous · halfhearted

Word family

earnestly (adverb) · earnestness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse earnest with 'eager,' but earnest emphasizes sincerity and intensity of feeling rather than keen desire or willingness to do something.

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