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Honest Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Honest Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Est. 1828
Dictionary
Definition
adjective
adverb
adjective
2
adjective
adverb
Synonyms
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honest
1 of 2
adjective
hon·est
ˈä-nəst
Synonyms of honest
1
a
: free from fraud or deception : legitimate, truthful
an honest plea an honest presentation of facts
b
: genuine, real
making honest stops at stop signs—Christian Science Monitor
c
: humble, plain
good honest food
2
a
: reputable, respectable
honest decent people
b
chiefly British
: good, worthy
an honest fellow
3
: worthy of praise
an honest day's work put forth an honest effort
4
a
: marked by integrity
honest merchants
b
: marked by free, forthright, and sincere expression : frank
an honest appraisal an honest discussion
c
: direct and uncomplicated : innocent, simple
some good honest sleep
honest
2 of 2
adverb
1
: in a genuine or honest (see honest entry 1) manner : honestly
I have ever found thee honest true—William Shakespeare
2
: with all sincerity
I didn't do it, honest
Synonyms
Adjective
truthful
veracious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for honest
upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right. upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.
a stern and upright minister
honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.
known for being honest in business dealings
just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.
workers given just compensation
conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.
conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will
honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.
a difficult but honorable decision
Examples of honest in a Sentence
Adjective
He says that it's impossible to find an honest politician.
These criminals pose a danger to honest citizens.
He has an honest face.
Just give me an honest answer.
If you want my honest opinion, you should get a job.
To be perfectly honest, I don't want to go.
He gave us a painfully honest account of his childhood.
It was an honest error.
He still goes to the office every morning and puts in an honest day's work.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebAdjective
But if anything, they should be praised for their willingness to have open, honest — if occasionally exasperating — conversations about their private life on camera, and for acknowledging the biases, blind spots and fears rooted in their cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
For many students, higher education has historically filled in the blanks yet because of the chilling effect caused by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ legislation aimed at dictating how professors can teach, HBCUs like FMU could become Florida’s safest space to have honest discussions about Black history.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024
At oral argument in one of the earlier obstruction challenges at the circuit, a defense attorney suggested that while his client was honest in his beliefs, Trump probably wasn’t.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024
Hopefully, this open and honest conversation will turn things around for the better for both you and your boss.
—Jack Kelly, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
The only exceptions are when a thief slips up and does something dumb (like attempt to sell a distinctive rack), or when an honest antler dealer or pawn shop broker calls in a suspicious item.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 29 Feb. 2024
Comfortable is cool and being honest about your financial situation and feelings about your body are in.
—Annemarie Dooling, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
My editors in the US and in Canada politely but quite clearly suggested that they were not convinced that an honest narration of stories about ordinary lives needed the distraction of pictures.
—Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024
In The Bird Hotel, the Guatemalan characters are mostly hard-working, skilled, resilient, and honest, devoted to family and church, but women get pregnant too young and too often, some mothers
abuse alcohol, and a few locals are treacherous scammers.
—Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'honest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin honestus honorable, from honos, honor honor
Adverb
derivative of honest entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Adverb
1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of honest was
in the 14th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing honest
be honest/frank
earn/turn an honest penny
honest with (someone)
honest-to-goodness
honest broker
honest wage
make (someone) an honest woman
make an honest woman of (someone)
let's be honest
honest living
honest mistake
Articles Related to honest
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Dictionary Entries Near honest
hone in on
honest
honest broker
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“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honest. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
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Kids Definition
honest
1 of 2
adjective
hon·est
ˈän-əst
1
: free from fraud or trickery : truthful
an honest plea
2
: being just what is indicated : genuine, real
made an honest mistake
3
: good in the eyes of society : respectable
poor but honest people
4
: trustworthy
5
: frank, open
honest
2 of 2
adverb
: to tell the truth : I mean it
I didn't do it, honest I didn't
More from Merriam-Webster on honest
Nglish: Translation of honest for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of honest for Arabic Speakers
Last Updated:
5 Mar 2024
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HONEST Synonyms: 401 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
HONEST Synonyms: 401 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
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Est. 1828
Thesaurus
Synonyms of honest
as in outspoken
as in honorable
as in ethical
as in genuine
as in candid
as in conscientious
as in authentic
as in outspokenas in honorableas in ethicalas in genuineas in candidas in conscientiousas in authentic
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honest
adjective
Definition of honest
1
as in outspoken
being in the habit of telling the truth
at least the weatherman is honest and doesn't pretend to be able to predict the unpredictable
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
outspoken
truthful
reliable
conscientious
genuine
credible
frank
candid
true
plain
veracious
unaffected
forthright
direct
forthcoming
earnest
believable
moral
open
guileless
trustworthy
unpretentious
plainspoken
scrupulous
dependable
openhearted
artless
unpretending
principled
veritable
free-spoken
out-front
aboveboard
freehearted
trusty
trustable
foursquare
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
dishonest
lying
untruthful
false
mendacious
untrue
unscrupulous
unreliable
fallacious
unbelievable
untrustworthy
fibbing
hypocritical
pretending
undependable
prevaricating
insincere
duplicitous
deceptive
evasive
deceitful
artful
sly
tricky
treacherous
wily
sneaky
devious
slick
slippery
underhanded
dissembling
posing
bluffing
dissimulating
equivocating
See More
2
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue
an area populated by honest and industrious farm folk
Synonyms & Similar Words
honorable
ethical
true
nice
good
decent
moral
virtuous
noble
worthy
righteous
respected
upright
straight
all right
right
just
correct
right-minded
proper
legitimate
pure
innocent
principled
decorous
exemplary
commendable
creditable
reputable
seemly
scrupulous
clean
high-minded
incorruptible
blameless
inoffensive
esteemed
irreproachable
unobjectionable
guiltless
immaculate
uncorrupted
upstanding
law-abiding
spotless
moralistic
sanctimonious
unerring
angelic
menschy
incorrupt
angelical
incorrupted
self-righteous
lily-white
pharisaical
rectitudinous
goody-goody
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
dishonest
wrong
bad
evil
wicked
unethical
sinful
immoral
dishonorable
improper
indecent
incorrect
corrupt
naughty
unrighteous
unseemly
unscrupulous
unbecoming
depraved
indecorous
perverted
dissolute
degenerate
unprincipled
debased
debauched
low
atrocious
mean
vicious
infamous
villainous
base
evil-minded
vile
offensive
objectionable
libertine
reprobate
blameworthy
nefarious
iniquitous
fallen
erring
errant
See More
3
as in ethical
following the accepted rules of moral conduct
an honest customer who doesn't hesitate to tell the cashier she's given him too much change
Synonyms & Similar Words
honorable
ethical
respectable
decent
noble
principled
righteous
upright
good
just
conscientious
upstanding
nice
polite
respected
stand-up
proper
unimpeachable
blameless
moral
chivalrous
irreproachable
scrupulous
guiltless
unassailable
classy
fair
virtuous
incorruptible
reputable
high-minded
uncorrupted
right-minded
decorous
menschy
seemly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
dishonest
unworthy
unjust
low
unethical
dishonorable
unprincipled
criminal
base
ignoble
bad
corrupt
evil
unrighteous
mean
unfair
sinful
immoral
crooked
rotten
reprehensible
unscrupulous
nefarious
roguish
iniquitous
wicked
rascally
vile
wretched
villainous
knavish
culpable
shameful
blameworthy
loose
censurable
blamable
scoundrelly
disgraceful
disreputable
blackguardly
perverse
depraved
venal
perverted
profligate
dissolute
degraded
decadent
degenerate
demoralized
debased
debauched
libertine
dissipated
reprobate
See More
4
as in genuine
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
the sort of person who helps others from an honest desire to do good
Synonyms & Similar Words
genuine
unaffected
simple
innocent
true
sincere
naive
real
inexperienced
spontaneous
straightforward
naïve
guileless
ingenuous
unpretentious
candid
artless
natural
unpretending
on the level
frank
open
trustful
unsophisticated
childlike
trusting
direct
impressionable
malleable
unworldly
plainspoken
wide-eyed
unforced
simpleminded
plain
openhearted
unstudied
free
unguarded
persuadable
straight
gullible
persuasible
gee-whiz
single-minded
dewy-eyed
free-spoken
susceptible
exploitable
unwary
gullable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
dishonest
critical
false
assuming
cynical
skeptical
artificial
artful
pretentious
affected
fake
insincere
wary
suspicious
phony
sophisticated
phoney
mistrustful
worldly
civilized
polished
cosmopolitan
cultured
deceptive
refined
hypocritical
guileful
deceitful
shrewd
manipulative
dissembling
cultivated
subtle
crooked
smooth
devious
cunning
dissimulating
sharp
sly
crafty
worldly-wise
tricky
wily
shifty
slick
designing
flattering
slippery
underhanded
calculating
scheming
foxy
unctuous
forced
feigned
arch
strained
two-faced
double-dealing
canny
knavish
sycophantic
mealymouthed
See More
5
as in candid
free in expressing one's true feelings and opinions
appreciate your honest friends, who tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear
Synonyms & Similar Words
candid
outspoken
frank
straightforward
forthcoming
forthright
open
direct
vocal
blunt
earnest
up-front
straight
plain
naive
unguarded
sincere
real
unreserved
plainspoken
unaffected
openhearted
outgoing
free-spoken
naïve
out-front
rude
guileless
ingenuous
unpretentious
artless
innocent
freehearted
gruff
uninhibited
unpretending
foursquare
vociferous
natural
sharp
unrestrained
brusque
abrupt
curt
bluff
tactless
crusty
thoughtless
undesigning
impolite
ungracious
undiplomatic
inconsiderate
unsubtle
impertinent
uncivil
unmannerly
brusk
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
restrained
quiet
inhibited
reserved
laconic
ambiguous
reticent
unforthcoming
evasive
uncandid
taciturn
dissembling
tactful
uncommunicative
diplomatic
equivocal
polite
courteous
civil
circuitous
considerate
politic
tight-lipped
close-mouthed
See More
6
as in conscientious
guided by or in accordance with one's sense of right and wrong
made an honest attempt to return the money she had found in the cafeteria
Synonyms & Similar Words
honorable
conscientious
ethical
moral
scrupulous
good
responsible
principled
respectful
worthy
just
decent
true
reliable
virtuous
conscionable
righteous
trustworthy
dutiful
upright
straight
observant
respected
solid
right-minded
reputable
trusty
overconscientious
esteemed
upstanding
law-abiding
tried-and-true
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
dishonest
unscrupulous
unjust
unethical
immoral
bad
dishonorable
unprincipled
evil
unconscionable
wicked
sinful
cutthroat
immoral
indecent
unreliable
untrustworthy
unrighteous
corrupt
depraved
perverted
dissolute
degenerate
debased
low
debauched
atrocious
mean
vicious
infamous
villainous
evil-minded
base
vile
nefarious
iniquitous
reprobate
See More
7
as in authentic
being exactly as appears or as claimed
a restaurant serving honest down-home Southern cooking
Synonyms & Similar Words
genuine
authentic
true
real
original
certified
actual
bona fide
for real
unmistakable
pure
historical
certifiable
sure-enough
dinkum
very
right
legitimate
identifiable
accurate
legal
pukka
lawful
verifiable
pucka
echt
recognizable
validated
proven
unquestionable
correct
irrefutable
substantiated
indisputable
verified
undeniable
incontrovertible
undoubted
proper
indubitable
unadulterated
incontestable
veritable
unalloyed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
false
fake
unreal
spurious
bogus
mock
phony
pseudo
phoney
counterfeit
unauthentic
sham
synthetic
artificial
imitation
supposititious
unnatural
simulated
factitious
suppositious
misleading
deceptive
manufactured
fabricated
concocted
delusive
man-made
delusory
See More
Try This Instead
For
Try This
an honest effort
a genuine effort
a sincere effort
an authentic effort
an earnest effort
a heartfelt effort
honest work
respectable work
honorable work
selfless work
earnest work
genuine work
an honest answer
a truthful answer
a genuine answer
an accurate answer
a frank answer
a straightforward answer
honest communication
open communication
transparent communication
heartfelt communication
upfront communication
clear communication
Synonym Chooser
How does the adjective honest differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of honest are conscientious, honorable, just, scrupulous, and upright. While all these words mean "having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right," honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.
known for being honest in business dealings
How do conscientious and scrupulous relate to one another, in the sense of honest?
Both conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.
conscientious in the completion of her assignments
scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will
When would honorable be a good substitute for honest?
The meanings of honorable and honest largely overlap; however, honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.
a difficult but honorable decision
Where would just be a reasonable alternative to honest?
While the synonyms just and honest are close in meaning, just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.
workers given just compensation
When might upright be a better fit than honest?
The words upright and honest can be used in similar contexts, but upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.
a stern and upright minister
Phrases Containing honest
honest broker
Articles Related to honest
Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes
When each letter can be seen but not heard
Thesaurus Entries Near honest
hones in (on)
honest
honest broker
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Style
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Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
“Honest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/honest. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on honest
Nglish: Translation of honest for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of honest for Arabic Speakers
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HONEST | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
HONEST | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
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English (UK)
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English
Meaning of honest in English
honestadjective uk
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/ˈɒn.ɪst/ us
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/ˈɑː.nɪst/
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B1 telling the truth or able to be trusted and not likely to steal, cheat, or lie: She's completely honest. I'd like you to give me an honest answer/your honest opinion. He had an honest face (= he looked like he could be trusted). Opposite
dishonest
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
morally rightgoodShe is a good woman who goes out of her way to help others.virtuousI believe that humans are, despite their flaws, capable of virtuous conduct.righteousHe refused to stray from the righteous path.honestHe was a hardworking, honest family man who was only trying to do his duty.upstandingI’m sure most of them are honest, upstanding members of society.
See more results »
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
telling the truth and able to be trustedhonestThe new MP was refreshingly honest with her constituents.straightJust be straight with her and tell her how you feel.sincereHe's so sincere that you know exactly where you stand with him. truthfulAre you being truthful with me?
See more results »
More examplesFewer examplesBe honest now - do you think this dress is too young for me?I wasn't entirely honest with him, I admit, but I didn't actually tell him any lies.To be brutally honest, you look fat in that dress.She has an honest, open face.I didn't know she would be there - that's the honest truth.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Honesty, openness & sincerity
above board
anti-corruption
artless
artlessly
artlessness
earnest
honestly
in all honesty/seriousness/truthfulness idiom
in good faith idiom
integrity
joking apart/aside idiom
let's face it idiom
sincerely
stainless
straight arrow idiom
straight up idiom
straightforward
the straight and narrow idiom
transparency
upright
See more results »
Idioms
honest (to God/goodness)
make an honest living
make an honest woman (out) of someone
to be honest (with you)
(Definition of honest from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
honest | American Dictionary
honestadjective us
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/ˈɑn·əst/
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(of a person) truthful or able to be trusted; not likely to steal, cheat, or lie, or (of actions, speech, or appearance) showing these qualities: an honest man an honest answer To be honest (= To tell the truth), I didn’t like the movie.
(Definition of honest from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of honest
honest
Yet, growing into old age has taught me to be honest with myself.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
It might have been useful in this theological text to be honest about the ways in which religion might be destructive to human wellbeing.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Many readers may find this too vague and nondirective a conclusion, but it may also be the most honest and potentially motivational conclusion available.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
In the crucial issues of rhetorical cogency, expressive adequacy, and honest intent, such tools have no place.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Truth telling is an important principle of medical ethics because honest communication shows respect, it promotes an effective therapeutic relationship, and it preserves trust.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
For some people, they give correct change because they are honest, because they care about fairness, and so on.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The role of honest broker in negotiations between loquacious opponents, however, was not to the ambassador's liking.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
His call for "honest" taxes operated on the premise that his opponents would flinch before the prospect of a divisive debate about transparent taxes.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Lastly, sincerity (being honest, speaking from the heart, etc.) is a positive trait that rock critics commonly cite.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The disagreement here is confined to the author's open and honest reductionism.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Both sides may be perfectly honest, both may wish to tell the truth and the whole truth.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
And yet, if the moderates were morally narrow and shortsighted, they were also morally honest.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
This awkward piece, gangling and almost painfully honest in its criticism, was, so to speak, 'disappeared'.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Here is a painful and painfully honest account of how easily a project can fail to meet its own expectations.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
To be honest, it is hard to say - they actually give little attention to offering constructive alternatives, or routes to achieving them.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
See all examples of honest
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of honest?
B1
Translations of honest
in Chinese (Traditional)
誠實的，可信的…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
诚实的，可信的…
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in Spanish
honrado, honesto/sta [masculine-feminine], sincere/era [masculine-feminine]…
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in Portuguese
honesto, leal, honesto/-ta…
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सत्य सांगणे किंवा विश्वास ठेवण्यास सक्षम असणे आणि चोरी, फसवणूक किंवा खोटे बोलण्याची शक्यता नाही…
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誠実な, 正直な, 正直（しょうじき）な…
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samimi, doğru, açık sözlü…
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honnête, sincère, franc/franche…
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sincer, honest, honrat…
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eerlijk, oprecht…
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உண்மையைச் சொன்னால் அல்லது நம்ப முடியும், திருடவோ, ஏமாற்றவோ அல்லது பொய் சொல்லவோ வாய்ப்பில்லை…
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ईमानदार, सत्याचारी…
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પ્રમાણિક…
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ærlig…
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ärlig, uppriktig, hederlig…
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jujur, halal…
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ehrlich, rechtschaffen…
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ærlig, hederlig, real…
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ایماندار, دیانتدار, سچ…
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чесний, щирий…
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откровенный, правдивый, честный…
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నిజాయితీ/ నిజం చెప్పడం లేదా విశ్వాసం పొందడం, దొంగిలించే, మోసం చేసే…
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صادِق, شَريف…
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সৎ, সত্যি…
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poctivý, upřímný…
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jujur…
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ซื่อตรง, หน้าซื่อ, สุจริต…
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trung thực, có vẻ thật thà, lương thiện…
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szczery, uczciwy, prawy…
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솔직한, 정직한…
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onesto, sincero, leale…
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honest
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
honest broker
honest-to-goodness
honestly
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honest broker
brutally honest
honest-to-goodness
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest living idiom
if I'm honest (with you), at to be honest (with you) idiom
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Idioms and phrases
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest living idiom
if I'm honest (with you), at to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest woman (out) of someone idiom
be nothing if not generous, honest, helpful, etc. idiom
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an answer or reaction
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HONEST Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
HONEST Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipshonest[ on-ist ]show ipaSee synonyms for: honesthonestness on Thesaurus.comadjectivetruthful; ethical; fair; not lying or cheating: She's an honest person.showing uprightness and fairness; not deceitful: Honest dealings remain central to the corporation's core values.gained or obtained fairly: honest wealth.sincere; frank; candid: He has an honest face.Give me your honest opinion.genuine or unadulterated: honest commodities.respectable; having a good reputation: an honest name.reliable in accuracy or truth; true; just: honest weights.humble, plain, or unadorned.Archaic. chaste; virtuous.See moreOrigin of honest1First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English honeste, from Middle French, from Latin honestus “honorable,” equivalent to hones- (variant stem of honōs ) honor + -tus adjective suffixOther words for honest1 trustworthy, truthful, veracious; conscientious, ethical, good, incorruptible, moral, principled, scrupulous; fair, honorable, just 2 upright 4 aboveboard, candid, direct, forthcoming, forthright, foursquare, frank, free-spoken, free-hearted, open, open-hearted, out-front, outspoken, plain, plain-spoken, straight, straightforward, unguarded, unreserved, up-front; artless, genuine, guileless, ingenuous, natural, simple, sincere, unaffected 5 actual, authentic, bona fide, echt, genuine, real, sure-enough, true; pure, unadulterated 6 esteemed, estimable, reputable, respected, of good repute, well-reputed 7 reliable, trusty; accurate, exact, faithful, preciseSee synonyms for honest on Thesaurus.comOpposites for honest1 lying, mendacious, untruthful; corrupt, dishonest, immoral, unconscionable, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; dishonorable 4 dissembling, uncandid, unforthcoming; affected, artful, artificial, disingenuous, guileful, insincere, phony 5 bogus, fake, mock, phony, pseudo, sham, unauthentic 6 disreputable 7 unreliableSee antonyms for honest on Thesaurus.comOther words from honesthon·est·ness, nouno·ver·hon·est, adjectiveo·ver·hon·est·ly, adverbo·ver·hon·est·ness, nounqua·si-hon·est, adjectivequa·si-hon·est·ly, adverbWords Nearby honesthoneHoneckerhonedHoneggerhone inhonesthonest brokerhonest InjunHonest Johnhonestlyhonest to GodDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use honest in a sentenceWell, that’s the contract we have with each other, that people will be honest with you.“People want to believe”: How Love Fraud builds an absorbing docuseries around a romantic con man | Alissa Wilkinson | September 4, 2020 | VoxReally, if I’m really honest with you, the main reason I didn’t want the job, the main reason I tried to quit, is because the pressure was super, super intense.Tan France Goes Deep on Racism and When He Almost Quit ‘Queer Eye’ | Eugene Robinson | September 3, 2020 | OzyWhen I hear you say that, if I’m 100% honest, that sounds like talking points.Full Transcript: Tomi Lahren on ‘The Carlos Watson Show’ | Daniel Malloy | August 31, 2020 | OzyNew personalities entering the crypto world—from Paul Tudor Jones to William Shatner to Olympian Christie Rampone—are helping initiate an honest conversation about whether our financial systems are helping or hurting us all.Why 2020 might be the year cryptocurrency goes mainstream | jakemeth | August 24, 2020 | FortuneBecause it’s time for the brands to build honest and transparent relationships with consumers, which is going to lead to stronger trust in advertising.Five great display and video advertising tactics to increase relevance and revenue in a cookie-less world | Anastasia-Yvoni Spiliopoulou | August 24, 2020 | Search Engine WatchWhat matters is being honest, humble, and a faithful and loyal friend, father and member of your community.Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv | Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Times of Israel even applauded Netanyahu for finally being honest about his views on the issue of Palestine.In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead | Dean Obeidallah | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTo be honest, I think a lot of good essay writing comes out of that.Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination | Mindy Farabee | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere is a brutally honest section of the book about how you fell out of love with your wife, and essentially chose soccer.Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity | William O’Connor | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo I’m sitting with my daughter and all of her friends—who are 13—and she says ‘Dad, can I be honest with you?Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’ | Stereo Williams | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith childlike confidence he follows the advice of some more or less honest dealer.The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsSometimes necessity makes an honest man a knave: and a rich man a honest man, because he has no occasion to be a knave.The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) | Daniel DefoeThey will reach you by the hands of Mr. Mackenzie, a worldly-minded Scotch merchant, but honest as to earthly things.The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsIf they are still Moderns and alive, I defy you to bury them if you are discussing living questions in a full and honest way.The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) WellsA world that has known five years of fighting has lost its taste for the honest drudgery of work.The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockSee More ExamplesBritish Dictionary definitions for honesthonest/ (ˈɒnɪst) /adjectivenot given to lying, cheating, stealing, etc; trustworthynot false or misleading; genuinejust or fair: honest wagescharacterized by sincerity and candour: an honest appraisalwithout pretensions or artificial traits: honest farmersarchaic (of a woman) respectablehonest broker a mediator in disputes, esp international oneshonest Injun (interjection) school slang genuinely, reallyhonest to God or honest to goodness (adjective) completely authentic(interjection) an expression of affirmation or surprisemake an honest woman of to marry (a woman, esp one who is pregnant) to prevent scandalSee moreOrigin of honest1C13: from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus distinguished, from honōs honourDerived forms of honesthonestness, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012Other Idioms and Phrases with honesthonestIn addition to the idioms beginning with honesthonest to Godalso see: come by (honestly)open (honest) and aboveboardSee More OriginsThe American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.Browse#aabbccddeeffgghhiijjkkllmmnnooppqqrrssttuuvvwwxxyyzzAboutCareersShopContact usAdvertise with usCookies, terms, & privacyDo not sell my infoFollow usGet the Word of the Day every day!Sign upBy clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.My account© 2024 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Meaning of honest in English
honestadjective us
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B1 telling the truth or able to be trusted and not likely to steal, cheat, or lie: She's completely honest. I'd like you to give me an honest answer/your honest opinion. He had an honest face (= he looked like he could be trusted). Opposite
dishonest
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
morally rightgoodShe is a good woman who goes out of her way to help others.goodHe believes that children should be encouraged to do good deeds.virtuousI believe that humans are, despite their flaws, capable of virtuous conduct.righteousHe refused to stray from the righteous path.honestHe was a hardworking, honest family man who was only trying to do his duty.
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Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
telling the truth and able to be trustedhonestThe new representative was refreshingly honest with her constituents.straightJust be straight with her and tell her how you feel.sincereHe's so sincere that you know exactly where you stand with him. truthfulAre you being truthful with me?
See more results »
More examplesFewer examplesBe honest now - do you think this dress is too young for me?I wasn't entirely honest with him, I admit, but I didn't actually tell him any lies.To be brutally honest, you look fat in that dress.She has an honest, open face.I didn't know she would be there - that's the honest truth.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Honesty, openness & sincerity
aboveboard
anti-corruption
artless
artlessly
artlessness
earnest
honestly
in all honesty/seriousness/truthfulness idiom
in good faith idiom
integrity
joking apart/aside idiom
let's face it idiom
sincerely
stainless
straight arrow idiom
straight up idiom
straightforward
the straight and narrow idiom
transparency
upright
See more results »
Idioms
honest (to God/goodness)
make an honest living
make an honest woman (out) of someone
to be honest (with you)
(Definition of honest from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
honest | Intermediate English
honestadjective us
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/ˈɑn·əst/
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(of a person) truthful or able to be trusted; not likely to steal, cheat, or lie, or (of actions, speech, or appearance) showing these qualities: an honest man an honest answer To be honest (= To tell the truth), I didn’t like the movie.
(Definition of honest from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of honest
honest
It wanted an honest race -- but it knew it couldn't walk (let alone run)!
From NPR
First off, make sure you're plenty hydrated and -- be honest about this one -- getting enough sleep.
From Huffington Post
To be honest, this sounds like a lot of pious baloney.
From Foreign Policy
To be honest, they just repeated themselves a lot.
From The New York Review of Books
It is now common practice for me to be honest with others about my condition.
From The Atlantic
This case has nothing to do with personal rights; it has everything to do with being honest to one's clients.
From Los Angeles Times
When the stakes were high, simple honest mistakes could be magnified.
From NOLA.com
But he was sensitive and honest -- and that came through in his music and his many interviews.
From CNN
Social is a mirror, it will be very honest with you.
From Fast Company
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
What is the pronunciation of honest?
B1
Translations of honest
in Chinese (Traditional)
誠實的，可信的…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
诚实的，可信的…
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in Spanish
honrado, honesto/sta [masculine-feminine], sincere/era [masculine-feminine]…
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in Portuguese
honesto, leal, honesto/-ta…
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सत्य सांगणे किंवा विश्वास ठेवण्यास सक्षम असणे आणि चोरी, फसवणूक किंवा खोटे बोलण्याची शक्यता नाही…
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誠実な, 正直な, 正直（しょうじき）な…
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samimi, doğru, açık sözlü…
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honnête, sincère, franc/franche…
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sincer, honest, honrat…
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eerlijk, oprecht…
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உண்மையைச் சொன்னால் அல்லது நம்ப முடியும், திருடவோ, ஏமாற்றவோ அல்லது பொய் சொல்லவோ வாய்ப்பில்லை…
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ईमानदार, सत्याचारी…
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પ્રમાણિક…
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ærlig…
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ärlig, uppriktig, hederlig…
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jujur, halal…
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ehrlich, rechtschaffen…
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ærlig, hederlig, real…
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ایماندار, دیانتدار, سچ…
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чесний, щирий…
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откровенный, правдивый, честный…
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నిజాయితీ/ నిజం చెప్పడం లేదా విశ్వాసం పొందడం, దొంగిలించే, మోసం చేసే…
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صادِق, شَريف…
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সৎ, সত্যি…
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poctivý, upřímný…
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jujur…
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ซื่อตรง, หน้าซื่อ, สุจริต…
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trung thực, có vẻ thật thà, lương thiện…
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szczery, uczciwy, prawy…
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솔직한, 정직한…
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onesto, sincero, leale…
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honest
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
honest broker
honest-to-goodness
honestly
More meanings of honest
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honest broker
brutally honest
honest-to-goodness
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest living idiom
if I'm honest (with you), at to be honest (with you) idiom
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Idioms and phrases
honest (to God/goodness) idiom
to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest living idiom
if I'm honest (with you), at to be honest (with you) idiom
make an honest woman (out) of someone idiom
be nothing if not generous, honest, helpful, etc. idiom
See all idioms and phrases
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an answer or reaction
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honest adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
honest adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
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Definition of honest adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
honest adjective /ˈɒnɪst/ /ˈɑːnɪst/Idioms
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always telling the truth, and never stealing or cheatingan honest man/womanThey were honest, hard-working people, trying to farm on their own two feet. opposite dishonestTopics Personal qualitiesb1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbsbeseemsound…adverbextremelyfairlyvery…prepositionaboutinwith…phraseshonest enoughto be honest (with you)open and honest…See full entry
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not hiding the truth about something honest about something Are you being completely honest about your feelings? honest with somebody Thank you for being so honest with me.Give me your honest opinion.He gave an honest answer to a difficult question.We need to have more open and honest discussions about mental health.The meeting was described as ‘a frank and honest exchange of views’.To be honest (= what I really think is), it was one of the worst books I've ever read.I'll be honest, I really don't agree with what she did.Let's be honest, she's only interested in Mike because of his money. The film has won accolades for being both brutally honest and very funny. If I am perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting much from this album.I just want the honest truth. Synonyms honesthonestfrank ▪ direct ▪ open ▪ outspoken ▪ straight ▪ bluntThese words all describe people saying exactly what they mean without trying to hide feelings, opinions or facts.honest not hiding the truth about something:Thank you for being so honest with me.frank honest in what you say, sometimes in a way that other people might not like:To be frank with you, I think your son has little chance of passing the exam.direct saying exactly what you mean in a way that nobody can pretend not to understand:You’ll have to get used to his direct manner. Being direct is sometimes considered positive but sometimes it is used as a ‘polite’ way of saying that somebody is rude.open (approving) (of a person) not keeping thoughts and feelings hidden:He was quite open about his reasons for leaving.outspoken saying exactly what you think, even if this shocks or offends people:She was outspoken in her criticism of the plan.straight honest and direct:I don’t think you’re being straight with me.blunt saying exactly what you think without trying to be polite:She has a reputation for blunt speaking.which word?Honest and frank refer to what you say as much as how you say it:a(n) honest/frank admission of guilt. They are generally positive words, although it is possible to be too frank in a way that other people might not like. Direct, outspoken and blunt all describe somebody’s manner of saying what they think. Outspoken suggests that you are willing to shock people by saying what you believe to be right. Blunt and direct often suggest that you think honesty is more important than being polite. Open is positive and describes somebody’s character:I’m a very open person.Patternshonest/frank/direct/open/outspoken/straight about somethinghonest/frank/direct/open/straight/blunt with somebodya(n) honest/direct/straight/blunt answera frank/direct/blunt mannerExtra ExamplesTo be perfectly honest, this was the worst film I've ever seen.The president failed to give an intellectually honest answer.I'll be honest, I've still got a soft spot in my heart for the guy.The manager gave an honest appraisal of the team's failings.To be quite honest with you, I don't think he's the right person for the job.Let's be brutally honest about this: you don't have a hope of succeeding.I don't think you've been altogether honest with me.My parents were always completely honest with me.She was totally open and honest about her feelings.Try to be honest about how you feel.Try to give an honest answer.Topics Personal qualitiesb1Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbsbeseemsound…adverbextremelyfairlyvery…prepositionaboutinwith…phraseshonest enoughto be honest (with you)open and honest…See full entry
showing an honest mind or attitudeShe's got an honest face.She seems honest enough.He made an honest mistake and deserves a second chance.Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbsbeseemsound…adverbextremelyfairlyvery…prepositionaboutinwith…phraseshonest enoughto be honest (with you)open and honest…See full entry (of work or wages) earned or resulting from hard workHe hasn't done an honest day's work in his life.It's quite a struggle to make an honest living.She claimed she was just trying to earn an honest penny. Use an, not a, before honest.Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘held in or deserving of honour’): via Old French from Latin honestus, from honos, honor.Idioms honest! (informal) used to emphasize that you are not lyingI didn't mean it, honest! honest to God/goodness used to emphasize that what you are saying is trueHonest to God, Mary, I'm not joking. Some people find this use of God offensive. see also honest-to-goodness make an honest woman of somebody (old-fashioned, humorous) to marry a woman after having had a sexual relationship with her, especially if she is pregnant See honest in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee honest in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
honest
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honest broker noun
honest-to-goodness adjective
honest brokers
to be honest
honest to God/goodness
Idioms
honest to God/goodness
Nearby words
hone verb
hone in on phrasal verb
honest adjective
honest broker noun
honestly adverb
boost
verb
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honest | meaning of honest in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE
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honest
Word family
(noun)
honesty ≠ dishonesty
(adjective)
honest ≠ dishonest
(adverb)
honestly ≠ dishonestly From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishhonesthon‧est /ˈɒnɪst $ ˈɑːn-/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective
1 characterHONEST someone who is honest always tells the truth and does not cheat or steal OPP dishonest
He was a hard-working honest man.
Ann had an honest face.2 HONESTstatement/answer etc not hiding the truth or the facts about something SYN frank
Do you want my honest opinion?
an honest answer
Let’s be honest: the only reason she married him was for his money.honest with
At least he was honest with you.honest about
She was always very honest about her feelings. → see Thesaurus box on 000000 3 → to be honest (with you)4 → honest!5 → honest to God
6 workHONEST honest work is done using your own efforts and without cheating
I bet he’s never done an honest day’s work in his life!
I’m just trying to earn an honest living.7 ordinary good peopleGOOD ENOUGH honest people are not famous or special, but behave in a good, socially acceptable way
She came from a good honest working-class background.8 → make an honest woman (out) of somebodyTHESAURUSnot cheating, stealing, lying etchonest always saying what is true, and not cheating, stealing etcI liked them because they were good honest people.You can trust Noah – he’s totally honest.reputable known to be honest and good in your business or work – used about people, companies, or organizations It’s best to buy from a reputable company.They were highly reputable sports physicians.above board [not before noun] honest and legal – used about the way something is done, organized etcThe deal was entirely above board.Was the voting in the elections above board?upright written always behaving in an honest wayan upright citizenGeorge was an upright man from a military family.not hiding the truth or the factshonest saying what you really think and not hiding the truth or the factsI’m going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me.an honest answerTo be honest, I didn’t think his speech was very good.straight informal honest and saying what you really thinkI can’t help you if you’re not straight with me.I need a straight answer.open willing to talk about what you think, feel etc in an honest way, rather than trying to hide itPeople have become more open about their feelings.She’s very easy to talk to because she’s so open.frank speaking honestly and directly about something, especially something that people find difficult to discussIn his book, he’s brutally frank about his experience with his illness.a frank discussion about sexdirect saying exactly what you think in an honest clear way, even when this might annoy or upset peopleNot everyone liked his direct manner.She can be very direct.blunt speaking in a completely honest way, even if it upsets people, when it would be better to be more careful or politeSorry if I was a bit blunt with you.His hard tone and blunt words were hurtful.She didn’t reply and I knew I had been too blunt.upfront [not before noun] informal talking and behaving in an honest way, even when it is difficult to do this, in a way that people respectIt’s best to be upfront about your financial problems.You have to be upfront with kids.outspoken expressing your opinions publicly in a very direct way, which may offend or annoy some peoplean outspoken critic of the governmentHe was known for his outspoken views on various controversies.forthright formal saying exactly what what you think, without being afraid of what other people will thinkThe opposition have not come up with a clear forthright statement of their policies.At times, Helena was a little too forthright.candid formal honest about the facts, or about your opinions and feelings, even if other people disapprove of themHe’d always been completely candid about his past.It was an unusually candid admission for a politician.
Examples from the Corpushonest• She horrifies me, to be honest.• As the job involves handling large amounts of money, it's essential that our workers are honest.• You can always rely on Stewart to be honest.• I don't think she's being completely honest about what she knows.• He is being honest and honesty is such a rare quality in a performer that the audience are stunned.• Tell me where you were - and I want an honest answer.• It's probably the only honest bit of politics left.• a fair and honest businessman• They also need to be embarrassed and confronted by their honest countrymen.• They were good, honest, hard-working people.• She was scrupulously honest in all her business dealings.• The attendant was entirely honest in his answers to my questions and in the amount of fuel he pumped.• They are flash people who have money to throw about, and not all the money they throw about is honest money.• You need to have an honest opinion of yourself.• That was the most honest part of her.• He's one of the few honest politicians we have left.• Recommending a strong secretary-general can sound like touting safe airlines or honest stockbrokers.• All we are asking is that management be honest with us, even if the situation is difficult.
Let’s be honest• Let's be honest about our failings.• Your options, let's be honest, are few.• Let's be honest, I was conceived in glasses.• But let's be honest, they're like bath water.earn an honest living• Occasionally I earned an honest living.• The things we all do to earn an honest living.honest!honest!spokenTRUE used to try to make someone believe you
I didn’t mean to hurt him, honest! → honestExamples from the Corpushonest!• I didn't mean to hurt him, honest!Origin honest (1200-1300) Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor; → HONOR
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honest broker
honest-to-goodness
honest Injun
honest to God
to be honest (with you)
let’s face it/let’s be honest
generous/loyal/honest etc to a fault
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