earnest

Earnest is an English adjective meaning sincere and serious in intention or effort. It describes a person’s demeanor, actions, or attitude when they show genuine dedication or honesty. In everyday use, phrases such as an earnest student or an earnest effort convey reliability and gravity. The adverbial phrase in earnest means “seriously” or “without joking.”

The word has a long history in English. It is associated with sincerity and commitment, and the term is used in the idiom in earnest to indicate doing something with genuine seriousness rather than in jest. In older and formal language, earnest could also function as a noun, referring to the state or quality of being serious.

Economic and legal usage: In real estate and contract law, earnest money is a deposit paid to demonstrate serious intent to buy a property or enter into a contract. The money is typically applied toward the price at closing or refunded if the transaction does not proceed under agreed conditions; the specific treatment varies by jurisdiction.

Name and culture: Earnest is used as a given name (variant spelling of Ernest) in English-speaking countries. The most famous cultural reference is Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, a play whose title uses a pun on the word’s meaning of seriousness and the name Ernest.