honestlyadverb
uk/ˈɒn.ɪst.li/us/ˈɑː.nɪst.li/B2 in a way that is honest:
They have always dealt honestly and fairly with their customers.
I can't honestly say what time I'll be home.
I'll do it tomorrow, honestly (= I promise that I will do it).
More examples
- I can honestly say that I have no interest whatsoever in the royal family.
- He answered openly and honestly without any hesitation.
- "You played brilliantly in the concert." "Oh thanks, do you honestly think so?"
- Quite honestly, the thought of standing up and performing live terrified me.
- I don't mind criticism as long as it's honestly given and doesn't get personal.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Honesty, openness & sincerity
- (as) man to man idiom
- above board
- artless
- be on the level idiom
- bona fide
- bone
- in all honesty/seriousness/truthfulness idiom
- in good faith idiom
- integrity
- joke
- joking apart/aside idiom
- let's face it idiom 1
- nail
- squeaky-clean
- stainless
- straight arrow idiom
- straight up idiom
- straightforward
- transparent
- truly
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honestlyadverb, exclamation
uk/ˈɒn.ɪst.li/us/ˈɑː.nɪst.li/B1 used to emphasize disapproval:
Honestly, you'd think she'd have asked you first!
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: very & extreme
- abject
- awful
- badly
- beyond
- classic
- classical
- devastating
- drop dead! idiom
- eminently
- esp
- especially
- heartily
- impossibly
- perfect
- sheer
- specially
- supremely
- thoroughly
- whole
- wide
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