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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Copper Sun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As far as the team knows, no other star, whether still undergoing nuclear fusion or already dead, has ever been credibly identified as genuinely green.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Musk was back in carnival-barker mode and genuinely appeared to be enjoying himself.
From Slate ● Oct. 19, 2026
When someone agrees because they feel compelled—not because they genuinely thought about and committed to their choice—they may end up regretting their decision, resenting the asker, or even backing out of the agreement later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
“If people were really genuinely concerned about the stock market right now, they’d be selling and not rushing to buy something else.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 17, 2026
His voice doesn’t sound wheedling, it sounds genuinely curious.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
