earnest1 adjectiveearnest2 noun
earnestear‧nest1 /ˈɜːnɪst $ ˈɜːr-/ ●○○ adjective 
WORD ORIGINearnest1
Origin:
Old English eornostEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a group of earnest musicians dressed completely in black
- Friends described Jackson as an earnest, hard-working young man.
- One earnest young man asked De Mille about the philosophical meaning of his films.
- It is my earnest wish that rugby continues to fulfil this role.
- The debate was prolonged and earnest.
- The other night we had quite an earnest talk.
- There was some earnest grunting and scraping, but no upward progress.
- They belonged to that earnest minority among the privileged, devoted to plain-living and high-thinking.
THESAURUSnot joking
not joking or laughing, or not pretending: · His voice sounded serious.· They seem to be serious about their relationship.
very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: · My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals.· The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens: · She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave.· He listened with a grave expression on his face.
British English (also somber American English) written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: · They sat in sombre silence.· The meeting began in a sombre mood.
very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced: · He was a rather earnest-looking young man.· ‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone who is quiet and does not laugh or joke much someone who is serious is quiet and sensible, and does not seem to enjoy laughing and joking: · Friends described him as a serious and thoughtful man.serious about: · Laura was always very serious about her work.
someone who is earnest is very serious or too serious, and believes that what they say or do is very important - use this especially about someone who is young or not very experienced: · One earnest young man asked De Mille about the philosophical meaning of his films.· a group of earnest musicians dressed completely in black
someone who is sober is very serious and thinks carefully about things, and does not laugh or joke very often: · I went to see Professor Dandavate, a sober and respected academic. · a sober-looking man in a grey suit
British /have no sense of humor American someone who has no sense of humour does not understand jokes, funny situations, etc - use this especially when you think someone like this is annoying or boring: · He didn't laugh at any of my jokes. Maybe taxi drivers just don't have a sense of humor.· My grandmother didn't have much of a sense of humour, and she could never understand what we were laughing about.
someone who is stuffy does not laugh or smile at things that other people think are funny, because they are a little formal and have old-fashioned attitudes: · Victor was as old-fashioned as his father, and equally stuffy.· Come on Dad. Don't be so stuffy!
British /humorless American someone who is humourless never laughs at anything and never tries to be funny or tell jokes: · I knew Deaver at college, and remember him as cold, humorless, and aloof.· Since the death of his wife he has become isolated, defensive and humorless.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Matthews was in earnest conversation with a young girl. an earnest desire to offer something useful to societyCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He was in deadly earnest (=completely serious).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
very serious and sincere: Matthews was in earnest conversation with a young girl. an earnest desire to offer something useful to society He was in deadly earnest (=completely serious).· Any struggle rooted in politicized and grass-roots mobilization is bound to overshadow even the most earnest efforts of politically inhibited endeavors.· The meal in front of them is the topic of their most earnest conversation.
NOUN· An earnest attempt at the Wilde life.
· The meal in front of them is the topic of their most earnest conversation.· I looked round and saw my master in earnest conversation with the monk.· Bobby sighed and turned to the chairman but he was in earnest conversation with a ponderous constable.
· This provides a firm basis for the new interest in evaluation and an earnest desire for its continued growth.· She talked about the language for some time, seemingly against her better judgment, drawn by his earnest desire to learn.· And yet, despite our earnest desire for happiness, we persist in disregarding the spiritual depths of ourselves.
· Under duress, it regularly exercises this will to sabotage the earnest efforts of its well-intentioned host.· Any struggle rooted in politicized and grass-roots mobilization is bound to overshadow even the most earnest efforts of politically inhibited endeavors.
a rather earnest young man Matthews was in earnest conversation with a young girl. an earnest desire to offer something useful to societyearnest expression/look/voice etcearnest attempt/effort etc► see thesaurus at serious—earnestly adverb: earnestly discussing politics—earnestness noun [uncountable]earnest1 adjectiveearnest2 noun
earnestearnest2 noun Longman Language Activatorto really mean what you say
to really mean what you say or really intend to do something: · Do you think she was serious when she said she used to be an actress?· Listen! I'm serious! I'm not lending you any more money!be serious about: · Tina's quite intelligent, but she's not really serious about her schoolwork.serious about doing something: · I hope Jeff's serious about giving up smoking.get serious about something (=start dealing with a problem in a determined way): · Car manufacturers should get serious about making security a design priority.deadly serious (=extremely serious): · Her voice suddenly sounded deadly serious.be perfectly/absolutely serious (=be serious in a situation where it is hard to believe that someone could be): · "Look!" he said, "I am perfectly serious. I'm willing to give you $10,000 for your land."
if someone means what they say, they are being serious when they say it, and they are not pretending or lying: mean it especially spoken: · I mean it - I'll scream if you don't let me go.· She told me she loved me - but I wasn't sure if she meant it.mean what you say: · I meant what I said, I never want to see you again.
if you say you are not joking , you really mean what you say, even though it seems surprising or unlikely: · There must be about 10 of them in that car - I'm not joking.· She told him she'd call the police if he bothered her again, and she wasn't joking.
if you say or do something seriously , you really mean it, really intend to do it, or really think it is important: · Are you seriously suggesting that she should give up her job in order to look after her husband?seriously intend/want/attempt etc to do something: · Those who seriously attempt to kill themselves usually manage to do so.seriously concerned/interested/worried etc: · She was talking about children's social education at a time when no one else was seriously concerned with it.
spoken if someone means business , it is very clear that they will definitely do what they say or what they are threatening to do: · The man had a gun. It was obvious he meant business.
if someone is in earnest , they really mean what they say, especially when they are saying what they want or what they intend to do: · I'm sure he was in earnest when he said he wanted to marry her.be very much in earnest: · She spoke lightly, but it was obvious that she was very much in earnest.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY On Monday your training begins in earnest! Although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He was in deadly earnest (=completely serious).
On Monday your training begins in earnest! Although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest. He was in deadly earnest (=completely serious).PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1in earnest if something starts happening in earnest, it begins properly – used when it was happening in a small or informal way before: - After the war, Kempton began his acting career in earnest.
- I'm sure he was in earnest when he said he wanted to marry her.
- I believe he was in earnest when he said he was leaving.
- She spoke lightly, but it was obvious that she was very much in earnest.
- And the hunt is in earnest for good old George.
- Bobby sighed and turned to the chairman but he was in earnest conversation with a ponderous constable.
- He never was in earnest, Cadfael reflected with certainty, and it would spoil his sport to use contrivance.
- If they hesitated, he could show them his revolver and his stick to convince them that he was in earnest.
- On the other, a dismissal would show that we were in earnest about stopping pilferage.
- They had not long to wait to discover whether Edward was in earnest or not.
On Monday your training begins in earnest!2be in earnest to really mean what you are saying, especially when expressing an intention or wish: She wasn’t sure whether he was in earnest or not.be in dead/deadly/complete earnest Although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest.