honest Definition
hon·est (än′ist)
adjective
- Obsolete
- held in respect; honorable
- respectable, creditable, commendable, seemly, etc.: a generalized epithet of commendation
- that will not lie, cheat, or steal; truthful; trustworthy
- showing fairness and sincerity; straightforward; free from deceit an honest effort
- gained or earned by fair methods, not by cheating, lying, or stealing an honest living
- being what it seems; genuine; pure to give honest measure
- frank and open an honest face
- Archaic virtuous; chaste
Etymology: ME < OFr honeste < L honestus < honor, honor
adverb
Informal honestly; truly: an intensive
honest Synonyms
honest
modif.
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.Honorable
upright, respectable, worthy; see noble 1, 2, reliable 1.Frank
candid, straightforward, aboveboard; see sense 1; seefrank.Fair
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
- honest-to-goodness ›
- honestly ›
- honesty ›
- honewort ›
- honey ›
- honey badger ›
- honey bear ›
- honey bucket ›
- honey pot ›
- Honey Tangerine ›

