genuinely
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
"I feel genuinely moved today by the rule of law," Lander told reporters after the verdict.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
When that happens, the pretrained network may interpret unfamiliar information through the lens of what it already knows, making it harder to recognize genuinely new effects.
From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026
“There are no gatekeepers, which means the ceiling is sky-high and the floor is as low as it gets; I’ve seen genuinely mind-blowing shows at Fringe, as well as a whole lot of crap.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
"She genuinely thought she was a wicked person. She thought she was worthless, and that's how she spent the rest of her life."
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
“Oh my God. Do you think she genuinely thought she was being helpful, or do you think she’s afraid if you look nice, people will think you’re prettier than her?”
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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.
