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Synonyms

honestly

American  
[on-ist-lee] / ˈɒn ɪst li /

adverb

  1. in an honest, truthful, or sincere manner.

    Parents are encouraged to speak honestly with their kids about drugs and alcohol.

  2. actually; truly.

    She was honestly surprised that he’d remembered their anniversary at all.

interjection

  1. (used to express mild exasperation, disbelief, dismay, etc.).

    Honestly! I want to finish this work, and you keep interrupting.
honestly British  
/ ˈɒnɪstlɪ /

adverb

  1. in an honest manner

  2. (intensifier)

    I honestly don't believe it
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. an expression of disgust, surprise, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of honestly

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honestli(che) “honorably, respectably; respectfully; fittingly, properly”; 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.

I honestly thought this Ashes series would be a challenge for Australia.

From BBC

He lives "next door" to Thorpe Park - and his message to any unhappy Bedford residents like Claudia is that living on the doorstep of a theme park is "honestly a dream".

From BBC

“Singing became a background to just being the character, which honestly, in some ways, was the hardest thing. Maybe even for my ego as as an artist.”

From Los Angeles Times

"I don't think anyone could tell you, I honestly cannot say. It's such an intriguing fight. Anything can happen."

From BBC

“It honestly couldn’t describe him better. It’s just exactly what he would do in that situation.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions 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.