Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an earnest manner; warmly; zealously; importunately; eagerly; with real desire; with fixed attention.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In an earnest manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In an earnest manner; being very sincere; putting forth genuine effort.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a serious manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

earnest +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Melissa Hathaway, President Obama's go-to adviser on cybersecurity, issued a rallying cry for the tech security community to begin earnestly collaborating on a "holistic approach" to slow rising cyber threats.

    Obama cybersecurity adviser tackles "impossible" mission 2009

  • Melissa Hathaway, President Obama's go-to adviser on cybersecurity, issued a rallying cry for the tech security community to begin earnestly collaborating on a "holistic approach" to slow rising cyber threats.

    Past Tech Trends & Products: Technology Live Archive 2009

  • Now the woman's voice came to them calling earnestly, "Sahib, sahib, sahib!" she cried.

    Jack Haydon's Quest John Finnemore

  • "Oh, but I had," said Martin earnestly, fixing the swinging ropes to their places.

    Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard 1922

  • 'Oh, but I had,' said Martin earnestly, fixing the swinging ropes to their places.

    Martin Pippin in the Apple Orchard 1921

  • If the power of this charm were unchecked, it would re-absorb the masculine idea into the feminine, so earnestly is it desired by men.

    The Psychology of the Suffragette 1910

  • But he calling earnestly after me, and charging them to stop me, some of them were fain to run, and laying hold on me before I could open the door, brought me back to my place again.

    The History of Thomas Ellwood Written by Himself Ellwood, Thomas, 1639-1713 1885

  • 'Well, you will allow me to say this, since I say it without reference to your personality or to mine -- that the Power and De Stancy families are the complements to each other; and that, abstractedly, they call earnestly to one another: "How neat and fit a thing for us to join hands!"'

    A Laodicean : a Story of To-day Thomas Hardy 1884

  • "Ay, indeed," cried the Robin earnestly; "it is faithless work to give advice which you will not follow yourself."

    Parables From Nature 1857

  • As he traversed the streets, he called earnestly upon all who remained to rally upon the walls for their defense.

    The Empire of Russia 1841

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