genuinely

American  

[jen-yoo-in-lee] / ˈdʒɛn ju ɪn li /

adverb

1. in a way that is real or true; authentically, honestly, or sincerely.

   We encourage children to place themselves in other people’s shoes in order to genuinely understand and empathize with their emotions.

   Ada is volunteering on the campaign because she genuinely believes in the candidate’s goals.

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Other Word Forms

• nongenuinely
  adverb
• quasi-genuinely
  adverb
• ungenuinely
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of genuinely

genuine ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Example Sentences

But where the PetPhone genuinely excels is location tracking.

From Slate • Jun. 20, 2026

Still, the Obama Center presents us with some genuinely awe-inspiring pieces, such as the Bible upon which both Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama were sworn in as presidents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

Highlighting the global impact of any deal, China said Wednesday that its top diplomat had impressed on Tehran that it was "key" for all sides to "genuinely implement" their commitments.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Just choose an olive oil you’d happily use in a vinaigrette and whose flavor you genuinely enjoy.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2026

“Is that what your daft uncle did?” asked Duane, genuinely curious.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• absolutely
• actually
• authentically
• certainly
• fairly
• honestly
• indeed