in earnest

idiom

1

: in an earnest or serious way

The search began in earnest when the police arrived.

After light showers during the day, it began to rain in earnest in the evening.

It's hard to tell if he's making this proposal in earnest.

2

: not fooling : serious and sincere

We thought he was joking at first, but then we realized that he was in earnest.

Examples of in earnest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Aside from a backstory that dates to the mid-20th century, the franchise begins in earnest in the 1970s. —EW.com, 8 May 2025

Talks began in earnest under Trump's first term but slowed under President Joe Biden. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025

The trade talks, the first in-person meeting between Chinese and American officials since the tit-for-tat tariff escalation kicked off in earnest in March, are unlikely to result in a trade deal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

What will happen when the Cuban community starts to feel these losses in earnest? —Alejandro Puyana, Time, 30 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for in earnest

• internist
• sternest