EARNEST

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does earnest mean? 

• EARNEST (noun)
  The noun EARNEST has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: EARNEST used as a noun is very rare.

• EARNEST (adjective)
  The adjective EARNEST has 3 senses:

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

2. sincerely earnest

3. not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal

  Familiarity information: EARNEST used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EARNEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("earnest" is a kind of...):

security; surety (property that your creditor can claim in case you default on your obligation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "earnest"):

arles; earnest money (money given by a buyer to a seller to bind a contract)

• EARNEST (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

earnest; sincere; solemn

Context example:

a film with a solemn social message

Similar:

serious (concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities)

Derivation:

earnestness (the trait of being serious)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Sincerely earnest

Synonyms:

dear; devout; earnest; heartfelt

Context example:

heartfelt condolences

Similar:

sincere (open and genuine; not deceitful)

Derivation:

earnestness (an earnest and sincere feeling)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal

Synonyms:

businesslike; earnest

Similar:

purposeful (serving as or indicating the existence of a purpose or goal)

Derivation:

earnestness (the trait of being serious)

 Context examples 

But Amy did not laugh, for she was in earnest, and tapping on the outspread hand with her pencil, said soberly, Aren't you ashamed of a hand like that?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

School began in earnest next day.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I turned my face away to conceal a smile I could not suppress: there was something ludicrous as well as painful in the little Parisienne's earnest and innate devotion to matters of dress.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He spoke and looked so much in earnest, that Anne was not surprised to see Mrs Clay stealing a glance at Elizabeth and herself.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Finally I set to work in earnest upon the trunk, taking turn and turn with Lord John.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was in dreadful earnest and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever happened I would always be true to him.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I was never more earnest in my life.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and so brave!

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

She was looking at him in an earnest and troubled way.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I began to see we should have a brush for it in earnest and looked to my priming.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)