genuinely
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of genuinely
Explanation
The adverb genuinely describes something done in a way that's real and true. If your friend is genuinely thrilled about your plan to backpack across China next summer, she means it. When you say something genuinely, you're honest. If you're genuinely worried about your friend getting hurt on her motorcycle, you'll beg her to wear a helmet. One theory about the origin of genuinely is that it comes from the Latin word for "knee," genu, referencing a custom of a father acknowledging his paternity by holding his baby on his knee.
Vocabulary lists containing genuinely
A Monster Calls
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Copper Sun
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 3
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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.
At the same time, I don’t want to lose two people we genuinely like just because our bank accounts don’t match.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
“Collectors genuinely see it as an opportunity. It’s like, ‘This may be the last chance to get a world-class Mary Cassatt for only $10 million,’” Dawes said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
I also genuinely love my job, so I’m perfectly happy to work longer if that makes sense.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
He later told the BBC the people working on the technology were "genuinely frightened" about the speed of its advancements and what it could mean for humanity.
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
He genuinely believed the accusations against him had been a serious misunderstanding and that once officials talked to his family to confirm his alibi, he'd be released in a couple of days.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
