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

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.

"I think he genuinely enjoyed it," she added.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

“If I hear that ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ — which is coming out later this year — was made half by AI, I genuinely don’t think I would buy it anymore,” Vargas told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

Little by little, I’ve built a style of grocery shopping that allows me to cook the foods I genuinely crave while staying within my means.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Were there any things that occurred during the rehearsal process that genuinely surprised you?

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

I’m not sure why I’m so determined—do I genuinely want to help this man or do I simply need to be better than Mom?

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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