sincerely
Americanadverb
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That’s not great news for a woman like Waters who hopes, probably sincerely, that men and women can get past differences in the interest of getting that birth rate up.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
My favorite depictions of this city know its real history is too cuckoo to capture sincerely; straight reenactments make the production of 35mm masterpieces look as piddly as Shrinky Dinks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
"I would like to sincerely express my regret," he wrote.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
"We know this news will be hugely disappointing, particularly for those who have already purchased tickets, and we sincerely apologise for that."
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
“All right,” she said cheerfully, and he thought he heard her, as he hurried off into the crowd, resume the subject of the Rotfang Conspiracy with Professor Trelawney, who seemed sincerely interested.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
