in earnest
phrase
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
The search for McKinney’s remains began in earnest in 2022, when nine DPAA specialists arrived at the crash site to begin excavations.
—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
The city says the Teen All-Access Pass program, which launched in earnest in 2021, supports the Mayor's Summer of Safety initiatives to keep teens engaged, active and safe during the summer.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The court will also prepare for jury selection, the final pretrial phase before opening arguments get the trial underway in earnest.
—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for in earnest
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Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
1 July 2026
The city says the Teen All-Access Pass program, which launched in earnest in 2021, supports the Mayor's Summer of Safety initiatives to keep teens engaged, active and safe during the summer.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The court will also prepare for jury selection, the final pretrial phase before opening arguments get the trial underway in earnest.
—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
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 3 Jul. 2026.
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