Word: Earnest

Pronunciation

/ˈɜːrnɪst/

Definitions

• Adjective: Showing sincere and intense conviction, seriousness, or determination. For example: “She spoke with earnestness about her commitment to the cause.”
  • Example Sentence: “He’s an earnest young man who works tirelessly towards his goals.”
• Noun: Seriousness or sincerity of intention, purpose, or effort; genuine feeling. For instance: “Her earnest desire to help made her a valuable team member.”
  • Example Sentence: “We appreciated his earnest efforts to complete the project on time.”

Phrases

• “In earnest”: seriously or sincerely; with deep conviction or serious intent. Example: “They began working in earnest after the planning stage was completed.”
• “Earnest money”: a deposit made by a buyer to show their sincerity in proceeding with the purchase of something, typically a property.

Example Sentences

• Adjective: “The earnest discussion between the leaders led to significant progress.”
• Noun: “The payment of a $10,000 earnest shows the buyer’s commitment to purchasing the house.”

Synonyms

• Sincere
• Serious
• Determined
• Dedicated
• Committed
• Intense
• heartfelt
• Genuinely (for the adjective sense)
• Down payment (for the noun sense referring to earnest money)