earnest
单词辨析：
常指因发生不幸事件或处于庄重场合而非常严肃的，语义较强。
The mourners looked solemn at the funeral.
葬礼上，哀悼者神情严肃。
The Premier's burial was a solemn occasion.
总理的葬礼场面庄重。
He looked very solemn as he announced the decision.
在宣布这一决定时，他显得非常严肃。
指人或举止认真而诚恳的。
The new secretary is earnest in her work.
新来的秘书工作很认真。
Mark is an earnest man.
马克是个真诚的人。
He had an earnest talk with his girlfriend.
他和女友进行了一次认真的交谈。
I made an earnest effort to persuade her.
我非常诚恳地努力说服她。
尤指因发生重大或令人担心的事件而神情严肃的。
He stood there with a grave look when he heard the news.
他听到这个消息后，脸色凝重地站在那里。
His face was grave when I told him my decision.
当我告诉他我的决定时，他的脸色很严肃。
It was a woman, grave and dignified, who advanced to meet him.
朝他走过来的分明是一个妇人，严肃而端庄。
普通用词，指非常认真而并非开玩笑的，也指人神情严肃的或事情需要认真考虑的。
Do you think he is serious about leaving school?
你认为他当真要辍学吗？
I am pretty serious about what I said at lunch.
我午餐时说的话是非常认真的。
You look serious; is there anything wrong?
你看上去很严肃，出什么事了吗？
This is a serious question.
这是个非常严肃的问题。
相关例句：
It's enough if you work hard and in earnest.
认真和努力了，这就已经足够了。
On December 8 the media blitz began in earnest.
12月8日，一场大规模媒体宣传活动轰轰烈烈地展开了。
He is earnest about his studies.
他热心于他的研究。
The two countries can finally start negotiating in earnest about issues of mutual concern.
两国终于可以开始就双方共同关心的问题进行更为认真的谈判。
I already very was not long the earnest feeling.
我已经很久没有认真的感觉了。
No one could tell whether he was in earnest or in jest.
谁都不知道他是认真的还是在开玩笑。