# honest

/ˈɑnəst/ (US) · /ˈɒnɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/honest
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. truthful

adjective · CEFR B1

telling the truth and not hiding things from other people.

For teachers: scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to lying, deception, or fraud.

- To be honest, I didn't really enjoy the movie last night.
- The manager appreciated her honest assessment of the project's failings, even though the news was difficult to hear.

### 2. fair and legal

adjective · CEFR B1

earned or done in a fair way that follows the rules.

For teachers: acquired or conducted in a fair, legal, and ethical manner.

- He made an honest living working as a carpenter for twenty years.
- The auditor confirmed that the company had made an honest effort to comply with the new financial regulations.

### 3. simple and direct

adjective · CEFR B2

simple, real, and not trying to impress anyone.

For teachers: unpretentious and genuine; characterized by a lack of sophistication or artifice.

- The restaurant serves good, honest food at a reasonable price.
- There was an honest quality to his craftsmanship that made the simple wooden chair more appealing than the mass-produced alternatives.

## Examples

- I need you to give me an honest answer.
- To be honest with you, I do not think this plan will work in the long run.
- The witness provided an honest account of the events, refusing to embellish the details even when pressured by the aggressive questioning of the defense attorney.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.