truly

adverb

tru·​ly ˈtrü-lē How to pronounce truly (audio)
Synonyms of trulynext
1
: in all sincerity : sincerely
truly sorry
—often used with yours as a complimentary close (as of a letter) or humorously to refer to oneself
"Who's in charge here?" "Yours truly."
2
: in agreement with fact : truthfully
Is this poll truly representative?
3
a
: indeed
—often used as an intensive
That was truly weird/awful/amazing.
 or interjectionally to express astonishment or doubt
b
: without feigning, falsity, or inaccuracy in truth or fact
truly sympathetic expressions of condolence
4
: with exactness of construction or operation
5
: in a proper or suitable manner
see also:
yours truly

Synonyms of truly

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Examples of truly in a Sentence

These truly dark clusters, if they are real, would betray the universe's dirty secret: Big piles of mass don't necessarily come with lights attached. —Robert Irion, Science, 20 June 2003
By the time Columbus arrived, truly large empires existed only in Mexico. —Tim Flannery, New York Review of Books, 12 June 2003
The streets and sidewalks of Bedley Run truly seemed as much mine as any person's, their almost affirming solidity underfoot, bouncing me along on my diurnal way. —Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999
I truly believe they can do it. He truly enjoyed the concert. This is truly a different situation. A country is not truly democratic until all of its citizens can vote freely. Is this poll truly representative of the voters' intentions?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Save this for cold weather to truly savor its rich, enveloping smokiness. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026 But there is a clear sense that Everton need a catalyst to push this project on under new owners The Friedkin Group (TFG), and something to truly excite the fans. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 That sounds like another cliché, but think for a second about how few people in the entertainment business that truly could be said about. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Learning to progress when circumstances are difficult is essential if results are to become resilient and truly sustainable. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for truly

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Time Traveler
The first known use of truly was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing truly

Rhymes for truly

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Browse Nearby Words

trullo
truly
Truman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Truly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

truly

adverb
tru·​ly ˈtrü-lē How to pronounce truly (audio)
: in a true manner
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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