（说话时）是认真的;是诚挚的
to be speaking honestly
I thought he was joking - I didn't realize he was in earnest. 我还以为他在开玩笑——没想到他是认真的。
When I said I admired your work, I was in earnest.
He laughed as he said it, but I knew he was in earnest.
When she says these things, do you think she's in earnest?
It sounded like a joke but he was in earnest.
She was in earnest about her dreams and aspirations.
See also: earnest