frankly

adverb

frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
spoke frankly
2
: in truth : indeed
frankly, I don't know

Examples of frankly in a Sentence

You can speak frankly to us. frankly, I'd rather stay at home than go to the movies tonight
Recent Examples on the Web From 2017 to 2019, Derek was under attack by a rogue police chief and corrupt mayor, who frankly, deserve to be in prison. The Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2024 That means giving your booksellers freedom that allows them frankly to have more fun. Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 All of it is concerning and, frankly, downright depressing. Jodie Valade, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 Today’s hosts are, frankly, afraid to say anything bad at all on network TV. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Checking in on the same day every year from 1988 to 2007, the series is blissfully nostalgic and left viewers obsessed and frankly, bawling. Lian Brooks, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024 Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Portable Cooler This compact and frankly adorable Coleman cooler is made with sturdy plastic and sits at 12 inches by 15.75 inches by 11.13 inches. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 Three campaign consultants not tied to Hovde's race agreed to speak frankly about his stache in exchange for not being quoted by name. Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 Avoid Being Overly Professional And Perfect Open your heart; being overly professional and perfect is old, and frankly, a hindrance to building trust. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frankly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frankly was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near frankly

Cite this Entry

“Frankly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frankly. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frankly

adverb
frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
you can speak frankly to us
2
: to tell the truth
frankly, I don't think it's wise

More from Merriam-Webster on frankly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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