earnest
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,775 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 10,197 times across 175,177 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions also: sincere, solemn both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionatean entirely sincere and cruel tyrant
- sincerely earnest also: dear, devout, heartfelt one's dearest wishdevout wishes for their success
- not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal also: businesslike
noun
- something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract
earnest in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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I wrote the note half in joke, half in earnest.
The Reflections of Ambrosine: A Novel · Elinor Glyn · Chapter 1
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He is very clever, and very much in earnest over everything.
The Half-Hearted · John Buchan · Chapter 1
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She said that he was very earnest and had a beautiful nature.
The Picture of Dorian Gray · Oscar Wilde · Chapter 1
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And yet, ‘pon my word, I was in love with you, oh, but for good and earnest!
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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And earnest thoughts within me rise, When I behold afar, Suspended in the evening skies, The shield of that red star.
The Complete Poetical Works of Henry · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Chapter 1