honestly

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɑ.nɪst.li/ UK /ˈɒn.ɪst.li/ See IPA manual

Freq #1543

Meanings

1

adv
In a truthful and sincere way.

He answered all the questions honestly.
2

adv
Used to stress that what you say is sincerely true.

Honestly, I didn't believe a word she said.
3

intj
Used to show that you are annoyed or frustrated.

Honestly! I want to finish this work and you keep interrupting.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a truthful and sincere way. truthfully sincerely

2 adv · used to stress that what... frankly really

3 intj · used to show that you are... really

More candidly earnestlyforthcominglygenuinely legitimately openly simply singly truly

Opposites

falsely

Word family

Derived forms unhonestly

Related forms accurately actuallydependablyethically honest honorably reliably responsibly righteously scrupulously

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

Get the money, honestly if you can

Etymology

From Middle English honestly, honestlyche, honestliche, equivalent to honest + -ly.

honestly Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# honestly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adv, intj
**IPA (US):** /ˈɑ.nɪst.li/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɒn.ɪst.li/
**Frequency rank:** 1543

## Meanings
1. In a truthful and sincere way.
2. Used to stress that what you say is sincerely true.
3. Used to show that you are annoyed or frustrated.

## Examples
- He answered all the questions honestly.
- Honestly, I didn't believe a word she said.
- Honestly! I want to finish this work and you keep interrupting.

## Synonyms
- candidly
- earnestly
- forthcomingly
- frankly
- genuinely
- legitimately
- openly
- simply
- sincerely
- singly
- truly
- truthfully

## Antonyms
- falsely

## Derived Forms
- unhonestly

## Related Forms
- accurately
- actually
- dependably
- ethically
- honest
- honorably
- reliably
- responsibly
- righteously
- scrupulously

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: honestly

## Etymology
From Middle English honestly, honestlyche, honestliche, equivalent to honest + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Honestly comes from Middle English honestly, honestlyche, honestliche, equivalent to honest + -ly. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adverbial form is built from the named base and affix. In current use, the main senses are “In a truthful and sincere way” and “Used to stress that what you say is sincerely true”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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