genuinely

American

[jen-yoo-in-lee] / ˈdʒɛn yu ɪn li /

adverb

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.

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.

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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.

“Some of the headlines can be overexaggerated, but this is genuinely the worst tech job market in decades, and if the hiring slump persists for another year, this downturn will be the longest on record.”

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

“This is your home. I knocked on your door because I genuinely want to know what you think. Please don’t apologize for sharing your opinion,” I told them.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

Another role crypto is playing in the war is genuinely novel, and it complicates the mediations in Pakistan in a different register.

From Barron's • Apr. 18, 2026

"Xintong is wonderfully talented and seems a genuinely nice kid who is super talented at snooker, and at the minute he is the best player on the planet."

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

“Aw, come on,” coaxed Ralph, who by now was genuinely curious.

From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023