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.
In theory, it measures how genuinely strong a team's attacking and defensive performance was.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
When Womack asks Norman whether he’s telling the truth, he responds, “I go home in two days. I genuinely have no dog in this fight besides I care about y’all.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
It sounds melodramatic, but I genuinely didn’t think I would make it to the age of 25.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
This woman could genuinely be trying her best to get it all sorted.
From MarketWatch • May 25, 2026
Instead, what happens is genuinely surprising: Theo neatly folds his hands in his own lap.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
