honestly

/ˈɒn.ɪst.li/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɑnəstli] /ˈɑː.nɪst.li/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɑnəstli] /ˈä-nəst-lē/ (ame, mw)

honestly — adverb

1. while telling the truth or following the rules fairly, without hiding facts, mis

1.副詞B1
釋義

while telling the truth or following the rules fairly, without hiding facts, misleading other people, or trying to cheat.

例句

Lan answered the police officer honestly about where she had been.

verb + honestly when telling the truth

Hari admitted honestly that he had forgotten to lock the back door.

honestly + that-clause after a verb of admission

同義詞
  • truthfully

    focuses more directly on saying what is true

  • fairly

    overlaps in games or competition, especially the 'without cheating' meaning

  • openly

    suggests not hiding feelings or information from others

反義詞
  • dishonestly

    in a way that hides the truth or breaks rules

  • deceitfully

    more formal and stronger; suggests deliberate tricking

文法句型

verb + honestly

honestly + admit / answer / speak / play

用法筆記

Usually modifies a verb such as 'answer', 'admit', 'speak', or 'play'. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 1 describes how an action is done, while sense 3 comments on the speaker's whole statement.

常見錯誤

❌The player won honestly by using a hidden card.
✅The player won dishonestly by using a hidden card.
💡'honestly' cannot describe cheating; it means truthfully or fairly.

2. marks a complaint by showing that the speaker finds something irritating, unreas

2.副詞B1
釋義

marks a complaint by showing that the speaker finds something irritating, unreasonable, or hard to accept.

例句

Honestly, this is the third time you have left the gate open.

sentence adverb at the start of a complaint

How can the printer jam again, honestly, five minutes before class starts?

parenthetical honestly inside an annoyed question

同義詞

文法句型

Honestly, + complaint

question word + ... honestly

用法筆記

Most often appears at the beginning of a sentence, or inside a question, to signal irritation or impatience. Distinguish from sense 3: here the tone is critical or fed up, not simply sincere.

常見錯誤

❌Honestly, the museum opens at nine every day.
✅Actually, the museum opens at nine every day.
💡sense 2 expresses annoyance, so it sounds wrong with a neutral fact.

3. marks a statement as genuine and seriously meant, often before an admission, opi

3.副詞B1
釋義

marks a statement as genuine and seriously meant, often before an admission, opinion, or reaction that may surprise people.

例句

Honestly, I did not expect the interview to go that well.

Honestly, + statement to stress sincerity

The plan looks expensive, but honestly it may save money later.

but honestly + clause marking the speaker's real view

同義詞
  • frankly

    often sounds blunter and more direct than 'honestly'

  • truly

    more formal and often used for strong feeling or emphasis

  • really

    common in everyday speech, but broader and less tied to sincerity

文法句型

Honestly, + statement

quite honestly + clause

but honestly + clause

用法筆記

This sense comments on the whole message, not on how an action was performed. It is common before opinions, admissions, and personal reactions. Unlike sense 2, it does not require an annoyed tone.

常見錯誤

❌Honestly, he answered every question in the test.
✅He answered every question honestly.
💡sentence-initial 'Honestly' shows the speaker's stance, but the second sentence describes how he answered.