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
Catena first started studying the soils in earnest over a decade ago, with an average of five pits dug per hectare to see what lies below the surface.
—
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The videos offered some guidance, but there will be plenty to be learned as spring practices begin in earnest in the coming weeks.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 8 Apr. 2024
The Senate needs to advance expeditiously toward a final vote, while possibly entertaining amendments offered in good faith, before the lobbyists can throw sand in the gears in hopes that the start of the campaign season in earnest frustrates the legislative effort.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Apr. 2024
But her food television career began in earnest in 2015.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
His independent advocacy began in earnest in 2011, when Mr. Marcus started the Brandeis Center, based in Washington (and unaffiliated with Brandeis University in Massachusetts).
—Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
At Kern County’s Pine Mountain Club, where annual black bear invasions began in earnest about a decade ago, home and vehicle break-ins are a recurring source of stress, as well as community division.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
Those cars began to hit three or four years old last year, and the volume will be arriving in earnest this year and next.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Curtis and Lohan have talked of their hopes for a sequel for several years now, but it’s only been in recent weeks that talks began in earnest.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
The videos offered some guidance, but there will be plenty to be learned as spring practices begin in earnest in the coming weeks.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 8 Apr. 2024
The Senate needs to advance expeditiously toward a final vote, while possibly entertaining amendments offered in good faith, before the lobbyists can throw sand in the gears in hopes that the start of the campaign season in earnest frustrates the legislative effort.
—The Editors, National Review, 8 Apr. 2024
But her food television career began in earnest in 2015.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
His independent advocacy began in earnest in 2011, when Mr. Marcus started the Brandeis Center, based in Washington (and unaffiliated with Brandeis University in Massachusetts).
—Vimal Patel, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
At Kern County’s Pine Mountain Club, where annual black bear invasions began in earnest about a decade ago, home and vehicle break-ins are a recurring source of stress, as well as community division.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024
Those cars began to hit three or four years old last year, and the volume will be arriving in earnest this year and next.
—James Morris, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Curtis and Lohan have talked of their hopes for a sequel for several years now, but it’s only been in recent weeks that talks began in earnest.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in earnest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near in earnest
Cite this Entry
“In earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20earnest. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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