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earnest

 
/ˈɜr·nəst/ adj [not gradable]

Definition

sincere and serious: She made an earnest attempt to convert me to her point of view. in earnest If something is done in earnest, it is done seriously: Work on the building began, in earnest, in late spring. earnestly
 
/ˈɜr·nəs·tli/ adv [not gradable]
earnestness
 
/ˈɜr·nəst·nəs/ n [U]
(Definition of earnest adj from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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