honestly

adverb
UK: /ˈɒnɪstli/
US: /ˈɑːnɪstli/

  1. In a truthful way; telling the truth.

    1. I honestly don't know what happened. [ ] [ ]
    2. Honestly, I was planning to tell you about the issue, but I forgot. [ ] [ ]

  2. Used to emphasize that you are being sincere or expressing your true opinion.

    1. Honestly, that was the best movie ever. [ ] [ ]
    2. Honestly, I think that you should consider another career path. [ ] [ ]

  3. In a fair and morally correct way.

    1. They won the game honestly, without cheating. [ ] [ ]
    2. She earned her promotion honestly through hard work and dedication. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

really genuinely fairly frankly sincerely
honestly interjection

  1. Used to express surprise, disbelief, or annoyance.

    1. Honestly! Did you even listen to me? [ ] [ ]
    2. Honestly, I can't believe you did that after I asked you not to. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "honestly" in English means: In a truthful way; telling the truth., Used to emphasize that you are being sincere or expressing your true opinion., In a fair and morally correct way..

The phonetic transcription of "honestly" is /ˈɒnɪstli/ in British English and /ˈɑːnɪstli/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "honestly": really, genuinely, fairly, frankly, sincerely.

Example usage of "honestly": "I honestly don't know what happened.". More examples on the page.