genuinely

American

[jen-yoo-in-lee] / ˈdʒɛn yu ɪn li /

adverb

in a way that is real or true; authentically, honestly, or sincerely.

We encourage children to place themselves in other people’s shoes in order to genuinely understand and empathize with their emotions.
Ada is volunteering on the campaign because she genuinely believes in the candidate’s goals.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of genuinely

genuine ( def. ) + -ly

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.

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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.

In many departments, a steady stream of “countable” papers is valued more than the slower path to a smaller number of genuinely important studies.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

He sounded genuinely supportive, which was so different from the neurologist’s response to my work.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

So far, officials in Brussels are hopeful that Magyar -- who once served under Orban, before turning on his former boss -- will genuinely launch a new chapter in ties.

From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026

The Moneyist: ‘AI genuinely freaks me out’: Do I leave my $150,000 nonprofit job for a $215,000 data analytics position — with a 50-minute commute?

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 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