'In earnest' definitions:

Definition of 'in earnest'

From: WordNet
adverb
In a serious manner; "talking earnestly with his son"; "she started studying snakes in earnest"; "a play dealing seriously with the question of divorce" [syn: seriously, earnestly, in earnest]

Definition of 'In earnest'

From: GCIDE
  • Earnest \Ear"nest\ ([~e]r"n[e^]st), n. [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.] Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness; intentness. [1913 Webster]
  • Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]
  • And given in earnest what I begged in jest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly. [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'In earnest'