Dictionary

frankly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• [ˈfɹʷæŋklɪi̯] ~ [ˈfɹʷæŋklɪ] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɹaŋklɪj/ (British, Southern, Standard)
• /fɹæŋkli/ (US) without æ-raising
• /fɹæːŋkli/ (Australia)
• [ˈfɹʷæːŋklɪi̯] (Australia)
• (æ-tensing) audio a=US
• /-lɪ/ (Scotland)
• [ˈfɹʷeːŋklɪi̯] (Australia) æ-raising
• /fɹɛŋkli/ (New-Zealand)
• [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯ŋkɪi̯] ~ [ˈfɹʷɛ̃ŋkɪi̯] US, Canada, æ-raising
• /ˈfɾaŋkli/ (Wales)
• /ˈfɹaŋkli/ (Midlands, Northern-England)
• /fɹæŋkli/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɾaŋkle/ (Scotland)
• [ˈfɹʷæŋklɪi̯] (US) without æ-raising
• /fɹeɪŋkli/ US, Canada, æ-raising
• /-li/ (Scotland)

Etymology

Etymology tree English frank Middle English -ly English -ly English frankly From frank + -ly.

Meanings

1. In a frank or candid manner, especially in a way that may seem too open, excessively honest, or slightly blunt.
   • to speak frankly
   • Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and frankly insulting. The antisemitic sentiment Musk endorsed had nothing to do with Israel; “replacement theory” is generally an unsupported allegation that Jews and other immigrants in the US and Europe are destroying Western civilization. 2023 November 28, Jill Filipovic, “Opinion: Elon Musk’s Israel tour was transparently transactional and insulting”, in CNN:
   • He spoke frankly about the economy.
   • She was frankly disappointed. For some reason she had expected to discover a burglar of one or another accepted type—either a dashing cracksman in full-blown evening dress, lithe, polished, pantherish, or a common yegg, a red-eyed, unshaven, burly brute in the rags and tatters of a tramp. 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter III (Accessory After the Fact), page 382, column 2:
2. (qualifier:sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth.
   • Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. 1939, Gone with the Wind, spoken by Rhett Butler (Clark Gable):
   • Most of what they said was, frankly, a pack of lies.
3. To a degree large enough as to be plainly evident.
   • frankly psychotic
   • frankly septic

Forms

Coordinates

evidently · obviously · apparently · macroscopically · grossly · palpably · greatly

Synonyms

in truth · truthfully · not gonna lie · very much · definitely · literally · as a matter of fact · to be frank · forsooth · legitimately · fact is · de jure · openly · frankly · candidly · as a matter of fact · indubitably · TBH · verily · forthcomingly · truthfully · in all honesty · wis · to be honest · singly · come to think of it · undoubtedly · bluntly · legitimately · honestly · in actuality · in reality · really · indeed · for realsies · sincerely · genuinely · simply · truth to tell · earnestly · in faith · certainly · in point of fact · by right · all things considered · outright · surely · tbh · straight up · no cap · soothly · to tell the truth · honestly · de facto · forthcomingly · right · truthfully · candidly · simply · frankly · soothfast · above a bit · honestly · in fact · actually · for real · truly · to be frank · properly · truly

Translations (61)

be шчы́ра (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · uk пря́мо (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · pl szczerze ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · nl ronduit (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · pl bez ogródek (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi sanalla sanottuna ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · pt francamente (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · el ειλικρινά (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi suoraan sanottuna ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · fi sanalla sanottuna (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · et otse (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · eo malkaŝe (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · bg открове́но (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi totta puhuakseni ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · fi jos totta puhutaan ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · pl szczerze (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · pt francamente ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · ko 솔직히 (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · ja 正直に (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · bg пря́мо (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · az sözün açığı ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · nn beintfram (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · sh и̏скрено (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · vo stedälo (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · sh ȉskreno (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · ru че́стно (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · az sözün düzü ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · ru че́стно говоря́ ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · nb oppriktig talt ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · uk щи́ро (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · bg че́стно (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · hu magyarán (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · be чэ́сна (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · sv ärligt talat ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · fi suorapuheisesti (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · mk искрено (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · bg и́скрено (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · ru открове́нно (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fr franchement (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi suoraan sanoen ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · uk че́сно (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · de um ehrlich zu sein ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · da ærligt talt (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi suoraan (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐌸𐌰𐌱𐌰 (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · ru и́скренне (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · be пра́ма (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · fi sanalla sanoen ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · uk відве́рто (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · de ehrlich gesagt ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · ru откры́то (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · nn ærleg talt ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · be адкры́та (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · it francamente (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · nb beint fram (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · vo stedäliko (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · id sejujurnya ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · es francamente (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · nb ærlig talt ((sentence adverb) In truth, to tell the truth) · ar بِصَراحة (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner) · ru пря́мо (in a frank, open or (too) honest manner)