sincerely
Americanadverb
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in a way that is genuine, earnest, or truthful.
We sincerely hope you can accept our apology.
-
a conventional term used at the end of a letter.
Sincerely, Mrs. Rose McNair.
Usage
Spelling tips for sincerely The word sincerely is hard to spell because many often miss the second e, as in sincerly, or they include it in the wrong place, as in sincerley. Also, sometimes people may be confused about whether and where the s and c go, as in sinserely or cinserely. How to spell sincerely: The easiest way to remember how to spell sincerely is to start with the adjective sincere. This helps you include the second e in the right place, as sincer would be pronounced quite differently than sincere. Then, you turn sincere into an adverb by adding the typical adverb-forming suffix -ly, resulting in sincerely. To help you remember that sincerely has an s and then a c, keep in mind the phrase "sincere scout." Scout uses an s followed by a c, just like sincere.
Etymology
Origin of sincerely
First recorded in 1560–70; sincere ( def. ) + -ly ( def. ); sincerely def. 2 recorded in 1700–05
Explanation
Sincerely is one way of signing off on a letter you’ve written, and it’s also an adverb you’d use when you want to emphasize how much you really mean it. I sincerely hope you understand what I’m talking about. Sincerity means being completely honest about what you mean, and only those who have sincerity should use the related word sincerely to describe their actions. If you sincerely want to swim in a lake, you’re not at all joking, which explains your bathing suit. You can use sincerely at the end of a note, too: “Dear Mom, I sincerely wish you would stop cutting my sandwiches into heart shapes. Sincerely yours, Kurt.” No doubt, Kurt sincerely means it.
Vocabulary lists containing sincerely
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4
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List 3
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List 5
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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 live with many regrets and sincerely apologize to anyone I may have hurt through my actions,” said the onetime mogul, pale and sitting in a wheelchair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
In a statement, the club said its Campus Clothing range had been withdrawn and it "sincerely apologised" for the error.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
He appears to sincerely dislike the idea that his candidacy should be a story about his identity at all.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
“We sincerely apologize to everyone who was hurt, disappointed, or offended by this incident.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
She sincerely hoped that the first tuition payment of fourteen dollars might be refunded to the diocese.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
