earnest
UR-nihst
Earnest (adj) means Serious and sincere in intention or feeling. Example: “He made an earnest attempt to apologise for his mistake.”
adj
1
Serious and sincere in intention or feeling.
"He made an earnest attempt to apologise for his mistake."
"She spoke in an earnest, heartfelt tone."
"The young volunteer gave an earnest speech about protecting the park."
noun
1
A sum of money paid in advance as a pledge or guarantee that a larger deal will go ahead.
"The buyer put down an earnest payment to secure the property."
"The seller kept the earnest money when the buyer withdrew from the sale."
"He handed over a deposit as earnest of his serious intent to buy."
How to use earnest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSincere and serious about something — or, as a noun, a deposit paid to show serious intent.
Common pairings
earnest effort
in earnest
earnest money
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Word forms
- Plural
- earnests
- Third person singular
- earnests
- Past tense
- earnested
- Comparative
- earnester, more earnest
- Superlative
- earnestest, most earnest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He made an _____ attempt to apologise for his mistake.
Etymology
From Old English eornest, meaning "zeal, seriousness, or even battle", related to Germanic words for vigour and diligence.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “earnest” mean?
The word “earnest” means serious and sincere in intention or feeling. In plain terms, sincere and serious about something — or, as a noun, a deposit paid to show serious intent.
How do you pronounce “earnest”?
“Earnest” is pronounced UR-nihst (/ˈɝ.nɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “earnest” in a sentence?
Here is “earnest” used in a sentence: “He made an earnest attempt to apologise for his mistake.”
What part of speech is “earnest”?
Depending on how it is used, “earnest” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “earnest” come from?
The word “earnest” comes from Old English. From Old English eornest, meaning "zeal, seriousness, or even battle", related to Germanic words for vigour and diligence.
Is “earnest” a common word?
“Earnest” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “earnest” have?
“Earnest” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: serious and sincere in intention or feeling.
What's the difference between earnest and sincere?
Earnest and sincere both describe genuine feeling, but earnest emphasizes seriousness and intensity of purpose, while sincere focuses on honesty and the absence of pretense. Someone can be sincere without being earnest if their manner is relaxed rather than intensely serious.
What is an "earnest" in a business or legal context?
In this sense, an earnest, or earnest money, is a sum paid in advance as a pledge that a larger deal, such as a property purchase, will go ahead. It signals genuine commitment and is usually credited toward the final price if the deal completes.
