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Showing results for honestly. Search instead for Honestli.
Synonyms

honestly

American  
[on-ist-lee] / ˈɒn ɪst li /

adverb

  1. in an honest, truthful, or sincere manner.

    Parents are encouraged to speak honestly with their kids about drugs and alcohol.

  2. actually; truly.

    She was honestly surprised that he’d remembered their anniversary at all.

interjection

  1. (used to express mild exasperation, disbelief, dismay, etc.).

    Honestly! I want to finish this work, and you keep interrupting.
honestly British  
/ ˈɒnɪstlɪ /

adverb

  1. in an honest manner

  2. (intensifier)

    I honestly don't believe it
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interjection

  1. an expression of disgust, surprise, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of honestly

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honestli(che) “honorably, respectably; respectfully; fittingly, properly”; see origin at honest, -ly

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’ve not given guidance to the street because, honestly, I don’t know. And I know that, whatever I say, it will be wrong, so I better say nothing,” Saynor said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“I honestly am unsure how to best continue to educate my students in a world where these AI tools exist.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Construction of the great arch in the Place de l’Étoile began in 1806 under the emperor Napoleon, as part of his ambitious scheme to rebuild Paris — but, honestly, that was the easy part.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

She said she had been pushing past her limits "running on empty, and my body finally said enough. It honestly scared me."

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Dr. Achebe was looking Coal dead in the eye, evenly, honestly.

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

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.