adverb
-
in an honest manner
-
(intensifier)
I honestly don't believe it
interjection
Etymology
Origin of honestly
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honestli(che) “honorably, respectably; respectfully; fittingly, properly”; see origin at honest, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Occupation, liberation, bombardments… honestly, how could it be worse? We've already seen it all."
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Your husband sounds like a stand-up guy and, honestly, plenty of people in your position would move on and leave the stepchildren zero in their will.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
“Whether that’s because of AI encroaching on their autonomy as a writer or thinker, I honestly don’t know.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
"I honestly don't think Musk will be keeping track of what the merger will do for his wealth," Nicholson said.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
She remembers to talk honestly about hot cars and aisles at the grocery store and not going beyond where the big red barn can see Axel.
From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
