earnest

/ˈʌrnəst/

/ˈʌnɪst/

Other forms: earnests

If you are earnest, it means you are serious about something. Your parents might not want you to drop out of school to follow some fly-by-night dream, but if you're earnest about wanting a career in show biz, they'll support you.

If you are earnest, you pursue your purpose in a steady, sincere, and eager way. The phrase in earnest uses earnest as a noun, as in, "Once you stop fooling around and start studying in earnest, you'll find you learn the material quickly." Oscar Wilde's classic play The Importance of Being Earnest plays on the fact that Ernest is also a man's name.

Definitions of earnest

1. adjective

   characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
   “both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate”

   synonyms: sincere, solemn

   serious

   concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
2. adjective

   devout or heartfelt
   synonyms: dear, devout, heartfelt

   sincere

   open and genuine; not deceitful
3. adjective

   not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal
   synonyms: businesslike

   purposeful

   serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal
4. noun

   something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract
   types:

   arles, earnest money

   money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract

   type of:

   security, surety

   property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation