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.
Some officials willing to hold steady next week may genuinely think a hike is unneeded, or they might simply be reluctant to force the hand of a chairman who hasn’t shown it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
For campaigners, the only solution is to fly less and limit airport expansions until planes can run on genuinely renewable fuel, like electricity or possibly hydrogen.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
That said, some companies are genuinely using AI.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
A small number of people who hear The Hum may genuinely have unusually sensitive low-frequency hearing.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
Cox sensed the man at the bridge was genuinely desperate for help.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
