in earnest

Speech parts

1. in earnest - Adjective

2. in earnest - Adverb

Meaning

in a serious manner

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

We are always on stage, even when we are stabbed in earnest at the end. Georg Büchner

At seventy-seven it is time to be in earnest. Samuel Johnson

The squirrel that you kill in jest, dies in earnest. Henry David Thoreau

When one dog barks for nothing, all other dogs bark in earnest. Japanese Proverb

Said in sport, meant in earnest. German Proverb

We knock in jest, and it is opened in earnest. German Proverb

Close letter words and terms