earnest

/'ə:nist/
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earnest

She listened with an earnest expression during the important lesson.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Serious and sincere in intention, feeling, or effort: Characterized by a deep, genuine, and often sober commitment.
    • Characterized by a firm, sincere, and often grave belief or purpose: Lacking frivolity or humor in its seriousness.

  2. Noun:

    • A serious and intent mental state: A state of being sincere and determined.
    • A token or pledge, especially a partial payment given to confirm a contract: Something of value given as a guarantee of future action or fulfillment.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • She gave an earnest promise to help. (She made a sincere and serious promise.)
    • He is an earnest student who always completes his work on time. (He is a diligent and serious student.)
    • They had an earnest discussion about their future. (They had a sincere and serious discussion.)

  • Noun (Mental State):

    • I could tell from his tone that he was in earnest. (I could tell he was completely serious.)
    • When she said she would quit, she was in deadly earnest. (She was extremely serious and meant what she said.)

  • Noun (Token/Pledge):

    • He paid $100 as an earnest on the car. (He paid a deposit as a guarantee to buy the car.)
    • The early victory was an earnest of greater successes to come. (The victory was a sign or promise of future success.)
Advanced Usage

  • "in earnest": With sincere and serious intention; in a determined and purposeful manner.

    • After the warning, he began studying in earnest. (He started studying with serious determination.)
    • The negotiations began in earnest this morning. (The serious part of the negotiations started.)

  • "dead/deadly earnest": Extremely serious and sincere.

    • He wasn't joking; he was in deadly earnest about moving abroad. (He was completely serious about his plan.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Earnestly (adverb): In a serious and sincere manner.
    • She listened earnestly to the advice.
  • Earnestness (noun): The quality of being earnest; deep sincerity.
    • His earnestness convinced me he was telling the truth.
Synonyms
  • Sincere: Genuine in feeling or belief.
  • Serious: Thoughtful, grave, or solemn in manner.
  • Diligent: Showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
  • Hearty: Warmly sincere and enthusiastic.
  • Solemn: Formal and dignified; not cheerful or smiling.
Antonyms
  • Frivolous: Not having any serious purpose or value.
  • Insincere: Not expressing genuine feelings.
  • Joking: Speaking or acting in a fun or teasing way.
  • Half-hearted: Without enthusiasm or energy.
Idioms and Phrases
  • In earnest: As previously defined in "Advanced Usage," this is the primary idiom.
  • Earnest money: A specific legal/financial term for a deposit made to secure a contract, especially in real estate.
    • They put down earnest money to show their commitment to buying the house.
earnest

She listened with an earnest expression during the important lesson.

Adjective
  1. not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal
  2. earnest
    • one's dearest wish
    • devout wishes for their success
    • heartfelt condolences
  3. characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
    • both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate
    • an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant
    • a film with a solemn social message
Noun
  1. something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract

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