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
Delta Air Lines will report its first-quarter results Friday, with big banks beginning next week to kick off the latest earnings reporting season in earnest.
—
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Illinois has welcomed several thousand immigrants since early 2022, when the border crisis began in earnest.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs’ quest for the NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat will begin in earnest next weekend.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
And when the 2028 presidential primary race begins in earnest, the D.N.C. chair will set the rules for the contest (including which state goes first and who qualifies for debates) and presumably try to remain neutral about whom Democrats choose as their nominee.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
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Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Illinois has welcomed several thousand immigrants since early 2022, when the border crisis began in earnest.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
The Chiefs’ quest for the NFL’s first Super Bowl three-peat will begin in earnest next weekend.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
And when the 2028 presidential primary race begins in earnest, the D.N.C. chair will set the rules for the contest (including which state goes first and who qualifies for debates) and presumably try to remain neutral about whom Democrats choose as their nominee.
—Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for in earnest
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 18 Jan. 2025.
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