truly

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈtɹuːli/ See IPA manual

Freq #1542

Meanings

1

adv
In a real and genuine way; really.

That is truly all I know.
2

adv
Used to make a statement stronger; very or completely.

It was a truly amazing performance.
3

adv
In a way that follows the facts; honestly and accurately.

She answered every question truly and held nothing back.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a real and genuine way;... genuinely really

2 adv · used to make a statement... extremely

3 adv · in a way that follows the... honestly sincerely

More actually exceedingly frankly literally very

Word family

Derived forms untruly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

truly awful
extremely bad or unpleasant

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Middle English truely, treuly, treuli, trewely, treoweliche, treowliche, from Old English trēowlīċe (“faithfully; truly”), equivalent to true + -ly. Cognate with Dutch trouwelijk, Middle Low German truwlike, German treulich, Swedish trolig, Icelandic trygglega.

truely Middle English trēowlīċe Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# truly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈtɹuːli/
**Frequency rank:** 1542

## Meanings
1. In a real and genuine way; really.
2. Used to make a statement stronger; very or completely.
3. In a way that follows the facts; honestly and accurately.

## Examples
- That is truly all I know.
- It was a truly amazing performance.
- She answered every question truly and held nothing back.

## Synonyms
- actually
- exceedingly
- frankly
- honestly
- literally
- sincerely
- very

## Derived Forms
- untruly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: truely
- Root: trēowlīċe

## Etymology
From Middle English truely, treuly, treuli, trewely, treoweliche, treowliche, from Old English trēowlīċe (“faithfully; truly”), equivalent to true + -ly. Cognate with Dutch trouwelijk, Middle Low German truwlike, German treulich, Swedish trolig, Icelandic trygglega.

## AI Etymology
Truly is from Middle English truely, treuly, treuli, trewely, treoweliche, treowliche, from Old English trēowlīċe (“faithfully; truly”), equivalent to true + -ly. Cognate with Dutch trouwelijk, Middle Low German truwlike, German treulich, Swedish trolig, Icelandic trygglega. In present-day use, it can mean in a real and genuine way; really, or used to make a statement stronger; very or completely. Derived formations include untruly.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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