earnest in English
- earnest⇄adj. 1. strong and firm in purpose; eager and serious.
Ex. The earnest pupil tried very hard to do his best.
(SYN) sincere, diligent, zealous.
2. important.
Ex. Life is real, life is earnest (Longfellow). - earnest⇄adv. earnestly.
- earnest⇄earnest (1), adjective, noun.
- earnest⇄earnest (2), noun.
1. a part given or done in advance as a pledge for the rest.
Ex. Take this money as an earnest of the amount I still owe you. Part of the price he paid to the seller was an earnest that the rest would be paid.
2. (Fig - earnest⇄expr. in earnest, determined or sincere; serious.
Ex. The young man is in earnest about becoming a famous painter. - earnest⇄noun earnestness.
- earnest⇄noun seriousness (of intention or purpose).
earnest in Sindhi سنڌي
earnest in Tamil தமிழ்
earnest in Telugu తెలుగు
Earnest
Part of Speech
Adjective, Noun
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˈɜrnɪst/
Phonetic: ur-nist
Definitions
- (Adjective) Showing sincere and intense conviction.
- (Noun) A token of advance payment to confirm a contract or promise.
Usage Examples
- He made an earnest attempt to solve the issue.
- The buyer paid an earnest to secure the property.
Etymology
Originating from Old English "eornest," meaning seriousness or zeal, with roots in Proto-Germanic *ernustuz. The noun sense referring to a pledge dates back to the 14th century.
Synonyms
- Serious
- Sincere
- Devoted
- Grave
Antonyms
- Frivolous
- Indifferent
- Flippant
- Casual
Translations
Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
Spanish | Serio | seh-ree-oh |
French | Sérieux | seh-ree-uh |
German | Ernst | airnst |
Mandarin | 认真的 | rèn zhēn de |
Hindi | गंभीर | gambhir |
Arabic | جاد | jaad |
Russian | Серьезный | ser-yoz-niy |
Japanese | 真剣な | shinken na |
Portuguese | Sério | seh-ree-o |
Italian | Serio | seh-ree-oh |
Korean | 진지한 | jin-ji-han |
Bengali | গম্ভীর | gombhir |
Telugu | తీవ్రమైన | teevramaina |
Marathi | गंभीर | gambhir |
Gujarati | ગંભીર | gambhir |
Tamil | தீவிரமான | theevira maana |
Urdu | سنجیدہ | sanjeeda |
Malayalam | ഗൗരവമുള്ള | gauravamulla |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
In British English, the 'r' sound is softer, while American English typically uses a more pronounced 'r'.
Historical Usage
During the Middle Ages, "earnest" referred to a pledge or advance payment. By the 17th century, the adjective sense describing sincerity became more common.
Cultural Nuances
In literature, earnestness is often associated with moral integrity, particularly in Victorian England, exemplified in Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest."
More Information
The word "earnest" conveys a sense of sincerity and dedication. It plays a significant role in social, legal, and emotional contexts. As a noun, earnest money is a deposit showing a buyer's commitment to a purchase, commonly used in real estate transactions.
Philosophically, being earnest is viewed as a virtue, reflecting a person's genuine intentions. The concept contrasts with superficiality and is valued in personal and professional relationships. Across cultures, earnestness signifies trustworthiness and dedication.