earnest

Pronunciation: /ˈɜːrnɪst/ (American English)

Origin: Old English eornoste (adjective), eornost (noun), of Germanic origin; related to German Ernst (seriousness)

Part of Speech: adjective, noun

Meanings:

1. (adj.) Serious and sincere; not joking or playful
2. (adj.) Showing depth and sincerity of feeling
3. (n.) A serious and intent mental state

Example Sentences:

1. She made an earnest plea for help during the crisis.
2. His earnest demeanor convinced us of his honesty.
3. We admired his earnest efforts to improve the community.

Related Words:

• Forms: earnestly (adverb), earnestness (noun)
• Synonyms: sincere, serious, intense, committed, dedicated, fervent

Memorization Trick:

Think of "EARNest" as someone who EARNS respect through their sincere and serious attitude. An earnest person puts in genuine effort to EARN trust and credibility.