frankly
FRANGK-lee
Frankly (adv) means speaking honestly and directly, without holding back. Example: “Can you tell me frankly whether you like the new design?”
adv
1
Speaking honestly and directly, without holding back.
"Can you tell me frankly whether you like the new design?"
"Frankly, I think the meeting was a waste of time."
"She spoke frankly about the mistakes the team had made."
2
Used to emphasize how obvious or strong something is.
"The service at the restaurant was frankly terrible."
"It is frankly impossible to finish this in an hour."
"The excuse was frankly ridiculous."
How to use frankly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsed to signal you're about to say something honestly, even if it's blunt.
Common pairings
frankly speaking
quite frankly
frankly ridiculous
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Word forms
- Comparative
- franklier, more frankly
- Superlative
- frankliest, most frankly
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Can you tell me _____ whether you like the new design?
Etymology
From frank + -ly.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “frankly” mean?
The word “frankly” means speaking honestly and directly, without holding back. In plain terms, used to signal you're about to say something honestly, even if it's blunt.
How do you pronounce “frankly”?
“Frankly” is pronounced FRANGK-lee (/ˈfɹæŋkli/ in IPA).
How do you use “frankly” in a sentence?
Here is “frankly” used in a sentence: “Frankly, I think the meeting was a waste of time.”
What part of speech is “frankly”?
“Frankly” is an adverb.
Is “frankly” a common word?
“Frankly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “frankly” have?
“Frankly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: speaking honestly and directly, without holding back.
What is the difference between "frankly" and "honestly"?
Both tell the listener you are being truthful, but "frankly" stresses directness and warns that something blunt or unwelcome is coming, while "honestly" simply stresses sincerity. "Honestly" is also common as an exclamation of exasperation ("Honestly! Not again"), a use "frankly" does not have.
Do you need a comma after "frankly" at the start of a sentence?
Yes. When "frankly" opens a sentence as a comment on the whole statement, it is a sentence adverb and takes a comma: "Frankly, I don't see the point." No comma is needed when it modifies the verb directly, as in "She spoke frankly about her illness."
Is it rude to use "frankly" in conversation?
"Frankly" is not rude in itself, but it signals that a blunt or critical opinion is coming, so it can sound confrontational if overused. In sensitive situations, softer openers such as "to be honest" or "in my view" deliver the same honesty with less edge.
Is "frankly speaking" correct English?
Yes. "Frankly speaking" is a correct sentence opener meaning "to speak honestly and directly": "Frankly speaking, the results were disappointing." Native speakers more often shorten it to "frankly" or use "to be frank"; all three signal that an unvarnished opinion follows.
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