English Reference
adverb

truthfully

adv.
US /ˈtɹuθfəɫi/ UK /tɹˈuːθfəli/ truth·ful·ly

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    in a way that is honest and tells the real facts.

    in a manner that is consistent with the truth; honestly and without deception.

    Simple

    He answered all the questions truthfully during the interview.

    In context

    The witness swore to testify truthfully, providing a detailed account that corroborated the evidence found at the scene.

    dishonestlyfalsely
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    you use this to introduce a statement that is your honest opinion, even if it is blunt.

    used as a sentence adverb to indicate that the speaker is expressing a sincere, though perhaps unwelcome, opinion.

    Simple

    Truthfully, I don't think the new design is as good as the old one.

    In context

    Truthfully, the committee was disappointed by the lack of innovation in the final proposals submitted by the design firms.

    Usage

    Often placed at the beginning of a sentence to set the tone for the statement.

    franklycandidlyto be fair

I told her, truthfully, that I didn’t notice any new aroma.

The Guardian· 3 Sept 2026

From truthful + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated