honestly

adverb

hon·​est·​ly ˈä-nəst-lē How to pronounce honestly (audio)
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

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.
That is, being able to share openly and honestly about their inner worlds. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 But honestly, hydrating your face with moisturizer is really important. Essence, 24 June 2025 Anne Elliot and Yoon Se-ri are highly capable characters who are way too smart to fall for just anyone, and honestly, these men truly are the crème de la crème. Leesa Cross-Smith, People.com, 21 June 2025 Sometimes just a few graceful words, honestly expressed, can both reveal and haunt. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 13 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Honestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honestly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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