Definitions for earnest
ˈɜr nɪstearnest

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.2 / 12 votes

1. earnestadjective

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

2. earnest, sincere, solemnadjective

   characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions

   "both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate"; "an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant"; "a film with a solemn social message"

3. dear, devout, earnest, heartfeltadjective

   earnest

   "one's dearest wish"; "devout wishes for their success"; "heartfelt condolences"

4. businesslike, earnestadjective

   not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Earnestnoun

   A male given name from the Germanic languages, of occasional usage, variant of Ernest.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. EARNESTadjective

   Etymology: eornest, Saxon.

   1. Ardent in any affection; warm; zealous; importunate.

   He which prayeth in due sort, is thereby made the more attentive to hear; and he which heareth, the more earnest to pray for the time which we bestow, as well in the one as the other. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 34.

   2. Intent; fixed; eager.

   On that prospect strange
   Their earnest eyes they fix’d; imagining,
   For one forbidden tree, a multitude
   Now ris’n, to work them further woe or shame. John Milton, P. L.

   They are never more earnest to disturb us, than when they see us most earnest in this duty. Brian Duppa.

2. Earnestnoun

   Etymology: from the adjective.

   1. Seriousness; a serious event not a jest; reality not a feigned appearance.

   Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Philip Sidney.

   I told you Klaius was the hapless wight,
   Who earnest found what they accounted play. Philip Sidney.

   Therewith she laugh’d, and did her earnest end in jest. F. Q.

   That high All-seer, which I dallied with,
   Hath turn’d my feigned prayer on my head,
   And given in earnest what I begg’d in jest. William Shakespeare, Rich. III.

   Nor can I think that God, Creator wise!
   Though threat’ning, will in earnest so destroy
   Us, his prime creatures. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. ix.

   But the main business and earnest of the world is money, dominion, and power. Roger L'Estrange, Fab. 5.

   We shall die in earnest, and it will not become us to live in jest. Government of the Tongue, s. 7.

   Sempronius, you have acted like yourself;
   One would have thought you had been half in earnest. Add.

   2. [ ernitz penge, Danish; arres, French.] Pledge; handsel; first fruits; token of something of the same kind in futurity.

   The apostles term it the handsel or earnest of that which is to come. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 5.

   Which leader shall the doubtful vict’ry bless,
   And give an earnest of the war’s success. Edmund Waller.

   It may be looked upon as a pledge and earnest of quiet and tranquillity. George Smalridge, Sermons.

   The mercies received, great as they are, were earnests and pledges of greater. Francis Atterbury.

   3. The money which is given in token that a bargain is ratified.

   You have conspir’d against our person,
   Join’d with an enemy proclaim’d, and from his coffers
   Receiv’d the golden earnest of our death. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

   Pay back the earnest penny received from Satan, and fling away his sin. Decay of Piety.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnest

   Earnest is a serious mental state that usually involves sincerity and intensity. It describes being genuine, showing deep sincerity or feeling, devoted, and determined in purpose. It can also refer to a portion of something, often money, given in advance as a show of good faith or intent.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Earnestnoun

   seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness

2. Earnestadjective

   ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; -- used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers

3. Earnestadjective

   intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention

4. Earnestadjective

   serious; important

5. Earnestverb

   to use in earnest

6. Earnestnoun

   something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge; handsel; a token of what is to come

7. Earnestnoun

   something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale

8. Etymology: [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G. ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. 'orny`nai to excite, L. oriri to rise.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. Earnest

   ėr′nest, adj. showing strong desire: determined: eager to obtain: intent: sincere: serious.—n. seriousness: reality.—adv. Ear′nestly.—n. Ear′nestness. [A.S. eornost, seriousness; Ger. ernst.]

2. Earnest

   ėr′nest, n. money given in token of a bargain made—also Ear′nest-mon′ey, Ear′nest-penn′y: a pledge: first-fruits. [Ety. obscure; possibly conn. with arles.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. earnest

   A sum paid in advance to secure a seaman's service.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. EARNEST

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Earnest is ranked #4452 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Earnest surname appeared 7,968 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 would have the surname Earnest.
   
   85.7% or 6,830 total occurrences were White.
   9.4% or 753 total occurrences were Black.
   2.2% or 179 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1.5% or 120 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   0.7% or 59 total occurrences were Asian.
   0.3% or 27 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for earnest »

1. estrane

2. nearest

3. eastern

4. sterane

How to pronounce earnest?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say earnest in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of earnest in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of earnest in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of earnest in a Sentence

1. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

   'Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, and things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art; to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.'

2. Peter Tuz:

   We've had a very good week and a very good start to the fourth quarter, next week third quarter earnings season begins in earnest. You had disappointing results from Alcoa yesterday and further reason to take money off the table as you go into next week.

3. Kevin Hochman:

   We don't see chicken as the big trend right now, but we are definitely looking at it in earnest and meeting with the big suppliers of alternative proteins to understand the market and where it's headed.

4. Matthew Jafarian:

   During the NBA bubble is really when we started researching, in earnest, how we could bring back fans safely into the arena.

5. John Lancaster Spalding:

   The doubt of an earnest, thoughtful, patient and laborious mind is worthy of respect. In such doubt may be found indeed more faith than in half the creeds.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=earnest
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Earnest
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=earnest
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earnest
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=earnest
7. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=earnest
8. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
   https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html
9. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=earnest