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honestly

[ on-ist-lee ]

/ ˈɒn ɪst li /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR honestly ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

in an honest manner.

with honesty.

interjection

(used to express mild exasperation, disbelief, dismay, etc.): Honestly! I want to finish this work and you keep interrupting.

Origin of honestly

1300–50; Middle English. See honest, -ly

Words nearby honestly

honest broker, honest injun, honest john, honest to god, honest-to-goodness, honestly, honesty, honesty box, honesty is the best policy, honewort, honey

Example sentences from the Web for honestly

That was honestly the scariest thing about putting it to bed.

The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll |Abby Haglage |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
That was honestly the scariest thing about putting the show to bed.

The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll |Abby Haglage |December 15, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Why he must address the multiple rape accusations against him honestly—and immediately.

When Your Comic Hero Is an Alleged Rapist |Doug McIntyre |November 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When I would say no, he would be honestly surprised that I would say no!

What It Feels Like For a Girl in Iraq |Noor |November 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Whether it did so naively or cynically, I honestly do not know.

Dark Money and Our Looming Oligarchy |Michael Tomasky |October 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He felt a certainty that even the few dollars he had honestly earned would now be stopped.

The Happy End |Joseph Hergesheimer
I honestly feared that I might prove the superfluous veteran who has no business behind the footlights.

Life of Oliver Wendell Holmes |E. E. Brown
It was my turn to fish the salmon water, and I did fish it, hard and honestly, but came ashore with a clean boat.

Lines in Pleasant Places |William Senior
If you wish wealth, win it if you can—honestly, of course—but don't throw in the heart.

Continental Monthly, Vol. II. July, 1862. No. 1. |Various
Why don't you honestly avow the Turkish notion that women have no souls?

Amelia |Henry Fielding

British Dictionary definitions for honestly

honestly

/ (ˈɒnɪstlɪ) /

adverb

in an honest manner

(intensifier) I honestly don't believe it

interjection

an expression of disgust, surprise, etc