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.
To become jaded is an occupational hazard when you’ve reviewed 2,000 movies, but I was genuinely excited to see Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
However, the authors note that this choice could also have excluded some genuinely weak extraterrestrial signals.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Hackney Diamonds” is another strong effort, with the banger “Angry” sounding urgent and, well, genuinely angry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The charity's conservation, curatorial and learning director, Matt Thompson, said there was "something genuinely sad about the idea of this tradition disappearing".
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
“Why would anyone want a belly piercing?” he asked, genuinely appalled.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
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.
