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 company, a 50-50 joint venture between MGM Resorts International and European gaming operator Entain, began operating in earnest in 2019. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Now, with midterm elections less than three months away and campaigning poised to get underway in earnest, the gap has become impossible to ignore. — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026

Major construction at Starbase began in earnest in 2018, with the first Starship prototype vehicle tests beginning in 2019. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

But the legacy sequel as near-inevitability didn’t really take off in earnest until the 2000s, when millennial nostalgia started contracting in quicker cycles. — Vadim Rizov, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for in earnest

• internist
• sternest