adv
earnestly
UR-nihst-lee
Earnestly (adv) means In a sincere, serious way, with real effort or feeling behind it. Example: “She earnestly promised to do better next time.”
adv
1
In a sincere, serious way, with real effort or feeling behind it.
"She earnestly promised to do better next time."
"He worked earnestly to fix the mistake before anyone noticed."
How to use earnestly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing or saying something with genuine sincerity, not half-heartedly.
Common pairings
earnestly hope
earnestly believe
ask earnestly
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more earnestly
- Superlative
- most earnestly
Fill the gap
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She _____ promised to do better next time.
Etymology
From Old English eornostlīċe, built from earnest plus the adverb ending -ly.
Synonyms
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seriously
in earnest
Related words
Rhymes for earnestly
See all rhymes for earnestly →Frequently asked questions
What does “earnestly” mean?
The word “earnestly” means in a sincere, serious way, with real effort or feeling behind it. In plain terms, doing or saying something with genuine sincerity, not half-heartedly.
How do you pronounce “earnestly”?
“Earnestly” is pronounced UR-nihst-lee (/ˈɝnɪstli/ in IPA).
How do you use “earnestly” in a sentence?
Here is “earnestly” used in a sentence: “She earnestly promised to do better next time.”
What part of speech is “earnestly”?
“Earnestly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “earnestly” come from?
The word “earnestly” comes from Old English. From Old English eornostlīċe, built from earnest plus the adverb ending -ly.
