honest Hear it!

honest Definition

hon·est (änist)

adjective

  1. Obsolete
    1. held in respect; honorable
    2. respectable, creditable, commendable, seemly, etc.: a generalized epithet of commendation
  2. that will not lie, cheat, or steal; truthful; trustworthy
    1. showing fairness and sincerity; straightforward; free from deceit an honest effort
    2. gained or earned by fair methods, not by cheating, lying, or stealing an honest living
  3. being what it seems; genuine; pure to give honest measure
  4. frank and open an honest face
  5. Archaic virtuous; chaste

Etymology: ME < OFr honeste < L honestus < honor, honor

adverb

Informal honestly; truly: an intensive

honest Synonyms

honest

modif.

  1. Truthful

    true, trustworthy, correct, exact, verifiable, undisguised, respectable, factual, sound, veritable, unimpeachable, legitimate, unquestionable, realistic, true-to-life, reasonable, aboveboard, unvarnished, naked, irrefutable, literal, plain, intrinsic, precise, straight*, square*, honest as the day is long*, on the level*, on the legit*, on the up and up*, kosher*, fair and square*; see also accurate 1, 2.

    Antonyms deceptive, false*, misleading.

  2. Honorable

    upright, respectable, worthy; see noble 1, 2, reliable 1.

  3. Frank

    candid, straightforward, aboveboard; see sense 1; seefrank.

  4. Fair

    just, equitable, impartial; see fair 1.

honest Usage Examples

Preposition: as

day: Kevin Blackwell is as honest as the day is long.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

keep: It is not the BBC license fee which is keeping producers honest, but the realities of the bottom line.

Modifies a noun

  • broker: The Civic Trust's role as honest broker in creating these partnerships has been a key to their success.
  • guv: It was a binge drinker that spilled a drink on my jacket, honest guv!
  • appraisal: Where can I get an honest appraisal in the Southern California area?
  • opinion: You should either come to us for an honest opinion, or choose to give up & play golf instead.
  • mistake: Without written instructions it is difficult to know whether this was an honest mistake or deliberate on behalf of the patient.
  • answer: We'll the honest answer is I don't know!

Used with adjective complement

  • get: Well, sometimes I feel like it's an easy way for me to get honest.
  • feel: You could tell by their body postures and facial expressions, they found the discussion awkward, but the atmosphere felt honest.
  • offer: Meals Heal's 60 cover restaurant, master minded by Oliver Peyton, offers honest, simple food done well.

Infinitive complement

  • admit: Most will find themselves described somewhere in his pages if only they are honest enough to admit it.
  • say: The Liberal Democrats claim to be the only party honest enough to say that they will raise taxes to pay the bills.

Modifying Another Word

  • brutally: Helena: The biggest, to be brutally honest, is about 10 kilos.
  • refreshingly: They really took note of what we said and were refreshingly honest at times.
  • scrupulously: Thus, your main challenge is to be certain that you are being scrupulously honest with yourself as well as with others.
  • perfectly: To be perfectly honest, I didn't actually think we would get beyond the awkward calcite squeeze near the entrance.
  • painfully: Mfd & she do calcs & MfdJ are painfully honest over pipe: about 30.
  • totally: To be totally honest I haven't managed to stick to any diet in the past.

Preposition: from

start: I'll be honest from the start and admit... Continue reading " Come on you Blues!

Browse dictionary entries near honest

  1. Honegger
  2. hone
  3. Honduras
  4. hondle
  5. Hond
  6. honcho
  7. honan
  8. hon
  9. homy
  10. homunculus
  1. honest-to-goodness
  2. honestly
  3. honesty
  4. honewort
  5. honey
  6. honey badger
  7. honey bear
  8. honey bucket
  9. honey pot
  10. Honey Tangerine