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.
And I’m going to keep learning, because financial education has genuinely become a major interest of mine.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
“Oh, I laugh. Some of them are genuinely hilarious—if it is NOT our robot,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
But “there is a real chance of genuinely heavy rainfall and thunderstorms that could potentially cause flooding,” Swain said, which he put at between 20% to 25%.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
"I genuinely thought these were all good opportunities, and I was going to grab them with both hands," said Jo.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Really, genuinely kind. Possibly the most sincere and wonderful boy ever. And Lorren already did the detective work, so I know he’s not a creepy grown-up. He’s thirteen. Like me.”
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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.
