truthfully

Everyday

1. In an honest way; telling the truth. tree →
2. (sentence adverb) Used to show you are being honest about your feelings: «Truthfully, I didn't like the film». tree →

In the lessons

In ethics lessons and stories: answering truthfully even when it's hard. In court, witnesses must answer truthfully. In everyday talk «truthfully» or «to be truthful» introduces an honest opinion. Phrases: «answer truthfully», «truthfully speaking», «to be truthful».

Examples

• Please answer the questions truthfully. tree →
• Truthfully, I forgot to do my homework. tree →
• She told the teacher truthfully what had happened. tree →
• Can you truthfully say you didn't eat the last biscuit? tree →
• Truthfully, I'm a bit scared of the dark. tree →
• The witness promised to speak truthfully. tree →
• He answered truthfully, even though he knew he would get in trouble. tree →
• I wish to ask you a question, and I beg you to answer truthfully. tree →

Note

Spelling: truth + ful + ly (one l in -ful, then -ly: truthfully has double l). Similar: «honestly». Opposite: «untruthfully», «dishonestly».