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

Then came Friday’s jobs report, and the selling began in earnest. —Robert Barone, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024

Awkwafina plays a struggling actress with her life on the line, and John Cena is in earnest goofball mode as the protection agent hired to keep her safe. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2024

Once Sullivan had heard the SoundCloud lineup, by way of his friend, music supervisor Zach Cowie, the project began in earnest. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2024

The mass mobilization to pick fruit has already begun in earnest. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2024