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
And by 2008, the company Andermatt Swiss Alps was created as the vehicle to achieve his project, and development began in earnest.
—
Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Even before campaigning began in earnest, there were residency challenges to Taylor’s candidacy, dismissed by the city’s Electoral Board.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
After the fall fests, campaigning begins in earnest for those who want to take a leap of faith.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Russell said that negotiations began in earnest in June but collapsed in the fall when university negotiators walked away from the bargaining table.
—Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in earnest
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Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Even before campaigning began in earnest, there were residency challenges to Taylor’s candidacy, dismissed by the city’s Electoral Board.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
After the fall fests, campaigning begins in earnest for those who want to take a leap of faith.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Russell said that negotiations began in earnest in June but collapsed in the fall when university negotiators walked away from the bargaining table.
—Pat Maio, Orange County Register, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in earnest
Cite this Entry
“In earnest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20earnest. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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