honestly
adverbinterjectioncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɒn.ɪst.li//
- United States//ˈɑ.nɪst.li//
- United States//ˈɑ.nəst.li//
- Canada//ˈɒn.ɪst.li//
In an honest manner.
adverb
- 1
In an honest manner.
He answered the questions honestly.
You honestly quit your tools; quit a most muddy confused coil of sore work, short rations, of sorrows, dispiritments and contradictions, having now honestly done with it all; — and await, not entirely in a distracted manner, what the Supreme Powers, and the Silences and the Eternities may have to say to you.
I can't honestly say that I feel any elatement at the prospect.
Nevertheless, you must know (if I am to speak honestly to you) that I do not repent me those dallyings in enchanted fields.
- 2
Frankly, to be honest.
Honestly, I didn't believe a word she said.
Under a popular Instagram post rounding up some of the most amusing memes generated from her BAFTAs performance, the actress commented on Monday, “Honestly I love this.”
- 3
informalExpresses mild surprise or hesitation about one's own conclusion.
Alright, can I play, like, here at least? Maybe ENTIA?, I guess ENTIA. Or INIA?, maybe just INIA honestly, for 29. I think that's better than ENTIA here, the T seems pretty valuable, I really want to try to bingo.
Etymology
From Middle English honestly, honestlyche, honestliche, equivalent to honest + -ly.
interjection
- 1
Used to express exasperation, dismay, etc.
Honestly! I want to finish this work and you keep interrupting.
Forms
- comparative
- more honestly
- superlative
- most honestly