adj · name · noun · verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈɝ.nɪst/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɜː.nɪst/
homophone: Ernest
CMU ARPABET:ER1 N IH0 S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Serious, sincere, ingenuous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
A male given name from the Germanic languages, of occasional usage, variant of Ernest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
noun
Meaning 8
Gravity; serious purpose; earnestness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
Examples
1914, February 13, The Times, Obituary: Canon Augustus Jessopp He wrote well in a forcible, colloquial style, with the air of being tremendously in earnest, and full of knowledge which overflowed his pages, tricked out with somewhat boisterous illustrations.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
Seriousness; reality; actuality (as opposed to joking or pretence)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A sum of money paid in advance as a deposit; hence, a pledge, a guarantee, an indication of something to come.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To be serious with; use in earnest.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
second-person singular simple present indicative of earn
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
adjective satellite
Meaning 13
not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: businesslike
Antonyms: none provided
14
adjective satellite
Meaning 14
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
both sides were deeply in earnest, even passionate
an entirely sincere and cruel tyrant
a film with a solemn social message
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sincere, solemn
Antonyms: none provided
15
adjective satellite
Meaning 15
earnest
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
one's dearest wish
devout wishes for their success
heartfelt condolences
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dear, devout, heartfelt
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
something of value given by one person to another to bind a contract
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: security, surety
Narrower terms: earnest money, arles
History
Etymology
From Middle English ernest, eornest, from Old English eornest, eornost, eornust (“earnestness, zeal, seriousness, battle”), from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz (“earnest, strength, solidity, struggle, fight”), a derivative of Proto-Germanic *arniz (“efficient, capable, diligent, sure”), from Proto-Indo-European *er- (“to cause to move, arouse, increase”). Cognate with West Frisian earnst (“earnest, seriousness”), Dutch ernst (“seriousness, gravity, earnest”), German Ernst (“seriousness, earnestness, zeal, vigour”), Icelandic ern (“brisk, vigorous”), Gothic 𐌰𐍂𐌽𐌹𐌱𐌰 (arniba, “secure, certain, sure”). The adjective is from Middle English eornest, from Old English eornoste (“earnest, zealous, serious”), from the noun. Cognate with North Frisian ernste (“earnest”), Middle Low German ernest, ernst (“serious, earnest”), German ernst (“serious, earnest”).
Uncertain; apparently related to erres. Compare also arles.
Etymology tree English earn Proto-Indo-European *-yōs Proto-Indo-European *-tHós Proto-Indo-European *-istHos Proto-Germanic *-istaz Proto-West Germanic *-ist Old English -est Middle English -est English -est English earnest From earn + -est.
Across languages
Translations
130 source translations are retained for this English entry.
