be in 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.

Those imams who still counsel against jihadist terrorism, says Kepel, may be in earnest.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Washington, Reagan Administration officials stressed that the Soviet leader's reform efforts seem to be in earnest, and avoided dashing hopes for better U.S.-Soviet ties.

From Time Magazine Archive

"You've got to be in earnest, you know," Jane said.

From Sunshine Jane by Warner, Anne

Great Britain now realized that the fight must be in earnest, and hired twenty thousand Hessians to help subjugate the colonies.

From Famous American Statesmen by Bolton, Sarah Knowles

And this was followed by the well-remembered injunction: 'Brother Boyden, I have only one word to say in reference to your labors, and that is, be in earnest.

From Biography of Rev. Hosea Ballou by Ballou, Maturin Murray