1
a
: without cheating or lying : in an honest way
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.
b
: in a genuine way : without pretending
He was honestly [=truly] frightened by what the doctor told him.
She honestly believes that she has been mistreated.
2
—used to stress that a statement is true
Honestly, I don't know how you can raise kids and work too.
I honestly don't know what to do.
3
informal
—used to express annoyance or disapproval
Honestly! Is that the best you can do?!
Cite this Entry
“Honestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/honestly. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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