earnest
earnest — adjective
1. showing such deep gravity that you take every matter seriously and rarely find a
showing such deep gravity that you take every matter seriously and rarely find any reason to smile or laugh at your own actions.
Theo kept an earnest expression during the comedy show his friends had dragged him to.
earnest expression — fixed serious look
Aiko's earnest dedication to recycling impressed the town council members greatly.
The speaker's earnest tone made everyone in the hall put down their phones and listen.
Diego was so earnest about his new diet that he refused a slice of his own birthday cake.
Yara found it hard to relax because her earnest classmates never joked during study sessions.
- solemn
suggests formal gravity, while 'earnest' emphasises personal conviction
- grave
more intense and often tied to serious consequences; less about personal attitude
- humourless
highlights the inability to find things funny, which is only part of this sense
文法句型
earnest + noun
be earnest
用法筆記
Often carries a mild negative tone, suggesting the person takes matters too seriously or lacks a sense of humour. Distinguished from sense 2 (SINCERE) by this critical overtone.
常見錯誤
2. showing a genuinely serious and heartfelt attitude, without any pretence or desi
showing a genuinely serious and heartfelt attitude, without any pretence or desire to deceive.
Priya offered her earnest thanks to the volunteers who rebuilt the village library.
earnest thanks — sincere gratitude
Rohan made an earnest promise to take care of his sister while their parents were away.
The letter from the orphanage contained an earnest plea for help with school supplies.
Hana's earnest wish was to become a nurse and serve families in remote mountain villages.
Leila was earnest in her desire to learn Japanese before the exchange programme began.
- insincere
direct opposite: pretending rather than genuinely feeling
- half-hearted
lacks the full commitment this sense describes
文法句型
earnest + noun
be earnest in/about + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (SOLEMN), this sense carries a clearly positive or neutral tone — it conveys genuine sincerity without the implication of being overly grave.
常見錯誤
3. with a higher level of effort, energy, or commitment than before, especially aft
with a higher level of effort, energy, or commitment than before, especially after a period of preparation or low activity.
Once the rainy season ended, construction on the new school began in earnest.
began in earnest — started with full effort
Nadia started studying in earnest after her teacher explained how important the exam was.
The search for the missing child began in earnest as soon as the rescue team arrived.
The Watanabe family began cleaning the old house in earnest after the typhoon warning was issued.
The night-shift nurse worked in earnest to prepare the emergency room for the incoming patients.
- seriously
more general; 'in earnest' emphasises increased intensity after a build-up
- with full force
more informal and dramatic; similar meaning
- wholeheartedly
focuses on enthusiasm rather than effort intensity
- half-heartedly
the opposite of giving full effort
- superficially
lacks the depth and commitment this phrase conveys
文法句型
begin/start/get under way + in earnest
be in earnest
用法筆記
This is a fixed phrase that functions adverbially. The headword 'earnest' here is part of the compound 'in earnest' and cannot be modified or separated. Do not write 'in very earnest' or 'in earnest manner.'
常見錯誤
4. used to introduce or emphasise a statement that you want the listener to accept
used to introduce or emphasise a statement that you want the listener to accept as completely honest and without any trace of humour.
I tell you in all earnestness, Tomás, that your idea could change how we teach music in schools.
in all earnestness — emphasising honesty
In all earnestness, the mayor admitted that the city needed safer bike lanes immediately.
Farouk asked the professor in all earnestness whether the old legend could possibly be true.
Mei said in all earnestness that she would rather fail the test than copy her friend's answers.
- in all sincerity
largely interchangeable, slightly more common in modern speech
- without joking
more informal and conversational
- honestly
simpler and more direct; less formal weight
- jokingly
opposite intention — saying something without serious intent
- half in jest
partly not serious, which is the opposite of this phrase
文法句型
in all earnestness + comma + clause
clause + comma + in all earnestness
用法筆記
This is a formal set phrase. Use it when you need to convince someone you are not joking. The shorter 'in earnest' (sense 3) does not carry this 'I am being honest' meaning; 'in all earnestness' does.
常見錯誤
earnest — noun
1. a state of being completely serious, focused, and sincere in one's thoughts or i
a state of being completely serious, focused, and sincere in one's thoughts or intentions, especially when speaking or acting.
Wen spoke with such earnest that everyone at the table stopped eating and listened closely.
with such earnest — serious manner
There was an earnest in Ravi's voice that convinced the whole team to try his plan.
The children listened with earnest as the librarian told the story of the lost city.
Beatriz could see the earnest in Yusuf's eyes when she promised to return the next spring.
- earnestness
the more common noun form; interchangeable in most modern contexts
- seriousness
broader and more common; lacks the 'sincere intent' flavour
- sincerity
focuses on honesty rather than intensity of focus
- frivolity
the opposite of being seriously focused
- insincerity
the opposite of genuine intent
文法句型
in earnest
with earnest
用法筆記
This noun sense is quite rare in modern English and sounds literary or old-fashioned. Most speakers prefer 'earnestness' or the phrase 'in earnest.' The expression 'in earnest' (adj sense 3) is far more common than using 'earnest' as a standalone noun.
常見錯誤
2. a surprisingly large or impressive amount, level, or degree of something, especi
a surprisingly large or impressive amount, level, or degree of something, especially something that is unexpected or striking.
The storm caused damage of such an earnest that the whole village needed government aid.
earnest — large degree (formal/literary)
Nikolai had never seen generosity of that earnest in his twenty years of charity work.
The flooding reached an earnest that forced the evacuation of three riverside communities.
The park ranger said the fire had grown to an earnest the team could not control without backup.
- trivial amount
a small, insignificant degree
- modest level
the opposite of a striking or impressive degree
文法句型
of such an earnest that...
to an earnest
用法筆記
This sense is extremely rare and highly formal. It typically follows 'of an earnest' or 'to an earnest' and is almost never used in everyday conversation. Learners should recognise it but not be expected to produce it actively.
常見錯誤
3. a deposit made when someone agrees to buy a house or other major asset, serving
a deposit made when someone agrees to buy a house or other major asset, serving as a signal of genuine commitment to finish the purchase.
The buyer paid thirty thousand dollars as earnest to secure the apartment before the auction.
pay + earnest — deposit to secure a purchase
The real estate lawyer explained that the earnest would be held in an escrow account until closing.
Sven and Pia handed over the earnest money as soon as the seller accepted their offer.
When the sale fell through, the earnest was returned to Zara because the contract had a clause for that situation.
The developer required an earnest of five percent of the total property price before construction could begin.
- deposit
the everyday term; 'earnest money' is the formal legal term for real estate
- down payment
a larger sum paid later; 'earnest' is the initial smaller good-faith deposit
- caution money
British term for a security deposit, not specific to property
文法句型
pay + earnest (money)
put down + earnest
earnest + on + noun
用法筆記
In the US, 'earnest money' (or just 'earnest' in legal contexts) refers specifically to a real-estate deposit. In British English, the term 'deposit' is far more common. The sum is typically refundable only under conditions stated in the purchase contract.
常見錯誤
4. a sign, object, or promise that serves as a guarantee or indication that somethi
a sign, object, or promise that serves as a guarantee or indication that something greater or more important will follow later.
The first warm days of spring were an earnest of the long summer ahead for the farm.
an earnest of — sign of something to come
Ines saw the small scholarship as an earnest of the university's commitment to rural students.
The handshake between the two leaders was an earnest of the peace agreement they would sign later.
Noa considered the old key an earnest of the family's promise that the cottage would one day be hers.
文法句型
an earnest of + noun
be + an earnest of
用法筆記
This sense is primarily literary and found in older or formal writing. The phrase 'a token of' is more common in modern English. Do not use this sense in everyday conversation.