honestly

adverb

hon·​est·​ly ˈä-nəst-lē How to pronounce honestly (audio)
Synonyms of honestlynext
1
: in an honest manner: such as
a
: without cheating
counted the ballots honestly
b
: really, genuinely
was honestly scared
c
: without frills
food honestly prepared
2
: to be honest : to tell the truth
honestly, I don't know

Synonyms of honestly

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Examples of honestly in a Sentence

Officials counted the votes honestly. The bank has always dealt honestly with me. I can honestly say that I have never seen that man before today. He spoke honestly about the mistakes he had made. She honestly believes that she has been mistreated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The bills tackle a growing threat to the industry, as several states have proposed or passed laws that require manufacturers to more honestly acknowledge the challenges of recycling plastic. — Lisa Song, ProPublica, 29 Oct. 2026 Her talent and open mindedness to try different things is honestly incredible. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026 Part of me thinks that friends should be able to share their feelings/perspectives honestly. — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026 Did the network honestly think a large portion of the college football base would not stay up for a late kickoff that came after Notre Dame played Miami, or Georgia faced Ole Miss in primetime? — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for honestly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of honestly was in the 14th century

Rhymes for honestly

See All Rhymes for honestly

Browse Nearby Words

honest living
honestly
honest mistake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Honestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honestly. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

honestly

adverb
hon·​est·​ly ˈän-əst-lē How to pronounce honestly (audio)
1
: in an honest manner: as
a
: without cheating
counted the votes honestly
b
: actually, genuinely
was honestly scared
2
: to be honest : to tell the truth
honestly, I don't understand it
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