Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

in earnest

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.66 in modern English

Syllables: in- earnest
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Sincere; determined; truthful.

adv

With considerable commitment, determination, or effect; significantly.

adv

Having a sincere intent. (of a person)

Example Sentences

""I wasn't in earnest. I only brought it in joke.""
"She replied, "When did I ever tell you a lie ? I am in earnest.""
"Samuel was stern, serious and deeply in earnest. He seldom smiled and never laughed. He was uncompromisingly religious, conscientious and morally unbending."
"It's snowing in earnest right now."
"The gentlemen wear swords, and may easily have pistols in their pockets—most likely have, indeed. If they fire at each other without effect, then they’ll draw, and go to work in earnest."
"But I see that if I were to live in a wilderness I should again be tempted to become a fisher and hunter in earnest."

Etymology

Dates back at least to Old English on eornost, of the same meaning of the adverbial sense below.

Inflected Forms

more in earnest (comparative) most in earnest (superlative)

Synonyms

seriously earnestly

Questions

What does in earnest mean?: Sincere; determined; truthful.
Where does in earnest come from?: Dates back at least to Old English on eornost, of the same meaning of the adverbial sense below.

How to pronounce in earnest

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “in earnest”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “in earnest”.
Repeat and practice — Say “in earnest” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.