Word
honestly
Phoneticshon·est·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɑnəsɫi/
UK/ˈɒnɪstli/
Sentence adverb
Definitions
01truthfully
B1 · Intermediate
adv. in a way that is truthful and sincere.
adv. in a truthful, sincere, or fair manner; without deception.
“He honestly believed that he was doing the right thing for his family.”
“The witness swore to answer every question honestly, regardless of how the testimony might affect his reputation in the community.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02frankly
B1 · Intermediate
adv. used to emphasize that you are telling your real opinion, even if it is surprising.
adv. used as a sentence adverb to emphasize the sincerity or frankness of a statement.
“Honestly, I don't think the new design is any better than the old one.”
“Honestly, the proposed budget seems entirely unrealistic given the current economic climate and the rising costs of raw materials.”
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English honestly, honestlyche, honestliche, equivalent to honest + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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