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
Education Department officials acknowledged this week that there will be a lag before the new transition begins in earnest.
—
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
As the offseason begins to heat up in earnest, one baseball writer foresees the Phillies replacing Bohm with one of the all-time greats at his position, who is nonetheless a question mark in his own right.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
State lawmakers in Pennsylvania, where Republicans control the Senate and Democrats run the House, are battling over the issue in earnest.
—Stephen Sorace , Charles Creitz, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Elordi began acting in earnest at the age of 16, after breaking his back while playing rugby.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in earnest
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Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
As the offseason begins to heat up in earnest, one baseball writer foresees the Phillies replacing Bohm with one of the all-time greats at his position, who is nonetheless a question mark in his own right.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
State lawmakers in Pennsylvania, where Republicans control the Senate and Democrats run the House, are battling over the issue in earnest.
—Stephen Sorace , Charles Creitz, FOXNews.com, 17 Nov. 2025
Elordi began acting in earnest at the age of 16, after breaking his back while playing rugby.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in earnest
Cite this Entry
“In earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20earnest. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.
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