1. An earnest and sincere feeling
   "His earnestness in discussing the issue impressed the committee";
   - seriousness, sincerity
    
2. The trait of being serious
   "a lack of solemnity is not necessarily a lack of earnestness";
   - seriousness, serious-mindedness, sincerity

See also: frivolous, serious

Type of: gravity, solemness, solemnity, solemnness, trait