in earnest

idiom

1

: in an earnest or serious way

The search began in earnest when the police arrived.

After light showers during the day, it began to rain in earnest in the evening.

It's hard to tell if he's making this proposal in earnest.

2

: not fooling : serious and sincere

We thought he was joking at first, but then we realized that he was in earnest.

Examples of in earnest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And that process will continue in earnest at the Senior Bowl. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026

Eryn Dion The snowfall has begun in earnest, with some areas reporting up to an inch having fallen already. —Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal, 25 Jan. 2026

Read more Now that opening-day speeches and start-of-session ceremonies are out of the way, the Colorado legislature’s work is beginning to spin up in earnest. —The Denver Post, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

Rights groups say rubble clearance and demining activities have not begun in earnest in the zone where most Palestinians live because Israel has prevented the entry of heavy machinery. —Julia Frankel, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for in earnest

• internist
• sternest