Word
truly
Phoneticstru·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹuɫi/
UK/tɹˈuːli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01honestly and sincerely
B1 · Intermediate
adv. used to show that you are being honest about your feelings or opinions.
adv. used to emphasize the sincerity or genuineness of a statement, feeling, or belief.
日本語:本当に※
“I am truly sorry for the mistake I made yesterday.”
“She was truly moved by the kindness of the local community during her recovery from the accident.”
Usage
Often placed before an adjective or a verb to emphasize the speaker's sincerity.
Antonyms
02accurately or really
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. in a way that is true or matches the facts.
adv. in accordance with truth or fact; used to confirm the reality of a situation.
“It is hard to know what truly happened without any witnesses.”
“The documentary attempts to show how the explorers truly lived during their long winter in the Arctic.”
Usage
Frequently used in questions or negative statements to challenge or confirm facts.
Antonyms
03very or completely
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
adv. used to emphasize a quality, meaning 'very' or 'extremely'.
adv. used as an intensifier to emphasize the degree of a quality or state.
Español:verdaderamente
“The view from the top of the mountain was truly beautiful.”
“The architect's latest design is a truly remarkable achievement in sustainable urban planning.”
Teaching tip
While 'truly' is common in writing, 'really' is much more frequent in everyday spoken English for this sense.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “truly” in context.
Verb
01. truly appreciate the help
“I truly appreciate the help you gave me during the move.”
adv + verb + noun
02. truly believe that
“I truly believe that we can find a solution if we work together.”
adv + verb + that-clause
03. truly care about people
“She is a kind leader who truly cares about her employees.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. truly grateful to be here
“After the long journey, we were truly grateful to be home at last.”
adv + adj + infinitive
05. truly remarkable achievement
“Winning the championship twice in a row was a truly remarkable achievement.”
adv + adj + noun
06. truly sorry for the mistake
“The company said they were truly sorry for the technical mistake.”
adv + adj + prep + noun
07. truly unique experience
“Seeing the Northern Lights for the first time was a truly unique experience.”
adv + adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“When they talk to Putin about European values, he truly laughs out loud.” “However our mothers behave, the fact is we will never truly know them.” “Theirs is truly a friendship for the ages.” “And by the time the Sun sets after approximately 21:00, the event will be well and truly over.” Etymology
From Middle English truely, treuly, treuli, trewely, treoweliche, treowliche, from Old English trēowlīċe (“faithfully; truly”), equivalent to true + -ly. Cognate with Dutch trouwelijk, Middle Low German truwlike, German treulich, Swedish trolig, Icelandic trygglega.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Idioms
01. well and truly
02. yours truly
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/truly
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0