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 charter school movement began in earnest in the United States in 1991, starting in Minnesota. — Charles J. Russo, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

The hunt started in 2021, as the return-to-office movement began in earnest. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2026

Each measure is compared against a preindustrial baseline, or the period before humans began burning fossil fuels in earnest—roughly the mid-19th century. — Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026

Nepal’s trade relationship with the west began in earnest in the 1990s, when the country established its multiparty democracy, developing a private sector propped up primarily by banking. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for in earnest

• internist
• sternest