What does honestly mean?
“Honestly” means speaking or acting in a truthful, sincere, and straightforward way. It commonly appears in statements such as “to be honest” and “honestly speaking,” where it introduces a candid opinion or emphasizes that the speaker is not merely being polite. In conversation, it can also signal that something seems surprising, unreasonable, or unrealistic: “Honestly, that should take only a few minutes.” The adverb is neutral overall, but its emphatic uses may sound informal, conversational, or mildly exasperated. It can describe both an honest answer and an honest assessment of a situation. As a related word, “honesty” names the broader quality of being truthful and fair, while “honest” describes a person, statement, or account that lacks deception or concealment.
adverbIn a truthful or straightforward manner, without exaggeration, concealment, or misleading intent. It can also be used to emphasize that someone is speaking seriously or sincerely.
- In a truthful or sincere manner, without deception or exaggeration.
- Used as a discourse marker to emphasize that what follows is a genuine opinion or serious assessment.
- Used informally to express frustration or disagreement with something regarded as absurd or unreasonable.
"She answered the difficult question honestly and without trying to deflect attention."
"Honestly, I had no idea how the problem would be solved."
"He admitted that the proposal had been presented inaccurately and spoke honestly about the risks."
“Honestly” can admit that someone is being completely straightforward—even when the truth is awkward or unwelcome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does honestly come from?
“Honestly” was formed in the early 16th century from “honest” and the adverbial suffix “-ly.” “Honest” ultimately comes from Latin honestus, derived from honos or honor, meaning honor or esteem, and originally conveyed trustworthiness and uprightness. The modern sense of truthfulness developed alongside its associations with honorable conduct. Related English forms include “honesty,” “honorable,” and “honor,” which reflect the same broader Latin family of ideas concerning esteem and integrity.
Related word forms
How honestly is actually used
The word is neutral in register and is especially common in everyday speech. In its emphatic sense, it can sound slightly conversational, while its use to criticize unreasonable behavior may sound informal or mildly impatient.
Easily confused with honestly
“Honestly” is an adverb describing how someone says or does something, while “honesty” is a noun referring to the quality of being truthful or fair.