# honestly

/ˈɑnəsɫi/ (US) · /ˈɒnɪstli/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. truthfully

adverb · CEFR B1

in a way that is truthful and sincere.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. frankly

adverb · CEFR B1

used to emphasize that you are telling your real opinion, even if it is surprising.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I honestly don't know the answer to that question.
- She answered the interviewer's questions honestly, even when discussing her previous mistakes.
- While the report was technically accurate, it failed to honestly address the underlying systemic issues that led to the project's initial failure.

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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.