earnestly

adverb

ear·nest·ly ˈər-nəst-lē

Synonyms of earnestly

: in an earnest and serious manner : not lightly, casually, or flippantly

speaking earnestly

asking earnestly for forgiveness

providing the relief that they had earnestly hoped for

She spoke so earnestly, with such emotion in her voice, that Omakayas was always to remember that moment …—Louise Erdrich

They sing contemporary R&B earnestly, like they borrowed it and want to return it in better condition than when they got it.—Danyel Smith

Examples of earnestly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

And yet, if someone earnestly explores the merits of the zodiac or crystal healing at a dinner party, my inner cynic awakens. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026 From the moment Errol Holden’s raps entered the public sphere in the early 2020s, listening to them has felt like hearing a stranger on the street earnestly tell you how the city has changed. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026 His query was earnestly tackled by the engineers at the RAND Corporation, who, in 1955, published a book composed only of a series of unrelated numerals piled up in neat rows. — Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026 This time around, Demna seemed to be speaking more earnestly about glamour and style, and to a customer base that fashion often pretends is not there. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for earnestly

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of earnestly was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

earnestful

earnestly

earnestness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Earnestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earnestly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

earnestly

adverb

Examples of earnestly in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on earnestly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes