earnest

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The topic of how to handle the crisis will be the primary focus of the Spring Meetings, which begin in earnest next week.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

In the background of a bar, a poster for Roberto Rossellini’s earnest humanitarian classic “Europa ’51” is visible, Jude obviously paying homage to a classic story about a privileged woman’s crisis of charity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Is Mr. Clark being playful here, or is he in earnest?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

Byrne has always had a knack for marrying camp with earnest determination, as though she’s keenly aware of how often the two intersect in everyday life.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

The attack on the church began in earnest in 1517, when a constipated German monk nailed a list of complaints to the door of the church in Wittenberg.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife