genuinely

American

[jen-yoo-in-lee] / ˈdʒɛn yu ɪn li /

adverb

in a way that is real or true; authentically, honestly, or sincerely.

We encourage children to place themselves in other people’s shoes in order to genuinely understand and empathize with their emotions.
Ada is volunteering on the campaign because she genuinely believes in the candidate’s goals.

Other Word Forms

nongenuinely adverb
quasi-genuinely adverb
ungenuinely adverb

Etymology

Origin of genuinely

genuine ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

The adverb genuinely describes something done in a way that's real and true. If your friend is genuinely thrilled about your plan to backpack across China next summer, she means it. When you say something genuinely, you're honest. If you're genuinely worried about your friend getting hurt on her motorcycle, you'll beg her to wear a helmet. One theory about the origin of genuinely is that it comes from the Latin word for "knee," genu, referencing a custom of a father acknowledging his paternity by holding his baby on his knee.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Perspective-taking is the ability to genuinely inhabit another point of view.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

He added that he was "genuinely shocked" when he was told they had made the cut, receiving the call when he was at home with his family.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

A mechanical engineer who helped architect Apple Silicon — arguably Apple’s most genuinely innovative achievement under Cook — he represents a return to product-first thinking.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026