earnest
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ear·nest1 /ˈɜːnɪst $ ˈɜːr-/ ●○○ adjective SERIOUS/NOT JOKINGvery serious and sincere 非常认真的，真诚的 a rather earnest young man 相当认真的一个年轻人 Matthews was in earnest conversation with a young girl. 马修斯在和一个年轻姑娘认真地谈话。 an earnest desire to offer something useful to society 为社会做贡献的真诚愿望earnest expression/look/voice etc 认真的表情/神情/声音等earnest attempt/effort etc 热切的尝试/努力等► see thesaurus at serious —earnestly adverb earnestly discussing politics 认真地讨论政治 —earnestness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
earnest• The debate was prolonged and earnest.• There was some earnest grunting and scraping, but no upward progress.• Friends described Jackson as an earnest, hard-working young man.• They belonged to that earnest minority among the privileged, devoted to plain-living and high-thinking.• a group of earnest musicians dressed completely in black• The other night we had quite an earnest talk.• It is my earnest wish that rugby continues to fulfil this role.• One earnest young man asked De Mille about the philosophical meaning of his films.in earnest conversation• Men huddled together in groups, deep in earnest conversations; it was here the real trading was done.• Bobby sighed and turned to the chairman but he was in earnest conversation with a ponderous constable.• I looked round and saw my master in earnest conversation with the monk.earnest2 noun 1 in earnest START DOING somethingif something starts happening in earnest, it begins properly – used when it was happening in a small or informal way before 真正地；认真地 On Monday your training begins in earnest! 星期一你的训练就正式开始了！2 be in earnest SERIOUS PERSONto really mean what you are saying, especially when expressing an intention or wish 是认真的，是诚挚的〔尤指在表达意图或愿望时〕 She wasn’t sure whether he was in earnest or not. 她吃不准他是不是认真的。be in dead/deadly/complete earnest Although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest. 虽然他在微笑，但阿什利知道他是极其认真的。Origin earnest1 Old English eornostear·nest1 adjectiveearnest2 nounChineseSyllable
serious sincere and very Corpus
earnest
ear‧nest1 /ˈɜːnəst, ˈɜːnɪst $ ˈɜːr-/ 
adjective
a rather earnest young man
Matthews was in earnest conversation with a young girl.
an earnest desire to offer something useful to society
earnest expression/look/voice etc
earnest attempt/effort etc
—earnestly adverb:
earnestly discussing politics
—earnestness noun [uncountable]
■ not joking
▪serious not joking or laughing, or not pretending: His voice sounded serious. | They seem to be serious about their relationship.
▪solemn very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals. | The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
▪grave written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens: She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave. | He listened with a grave expression on his face.
▪sombre British English (also somber American English) /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: They sat in sombre silence. | The meeting began in a sombre mood.
▪earnest very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced: He was a rather earnest-looking young man. | ‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.
earnest2 noun
1. in earnest if something starts happening in earnest, it begins properly – used when it was happening in a small or informal way before:
On Monday your training begins in earnest!
2. be in earnest to really mean what you are saying, especially when expressing an intention or wish:
She wasn’t sure whether he was in earnest or not.
be in dead/deadly/complete earnest
Although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest.
| I |
adjective Language: Old English
Origin: eornost
very serious and sincere:Origin: eornost
earnest expression/look/voice etc
earnest attempt/effort etc
—earnestly adverb:
—earnestness noun [uncountable]
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
noun1. in earnest if something starts happening in earnest, it begins properly – used when it was happening in a small or informal way before:
2. be in earnest to really mean what you are saying, especially when expressing an intention or wish:
be in dead/deadly/complete earnest
