honest
ON-ihst
Honest (adj) means telling the truth and not inclined to lie, cheat, or steal. Example: “She's always been honest with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable.”
adj
1
Telling the truth and not inclined to lie, cheat, or steal.
"She's always been honest with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable."
"An honest mistake is very different from a deliberate lie."
"He was honest enough to admit that he had broken the window."
2
Sincere and fair, without hidden motives.
"I'd appreciate your honest opinion on the draft."
"The judges gave an honest assessment of every performance, good or bad."
"She made an honest effort to understand his point of view."
How to use honest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTruthful and trustworthy — not lying, cheating, or hiding things.
Common mistake
The "h" is silent, so it's used with "an" — "an honest man", not "a honest man".
Common pairings
honest mistake
honest opinion
honest living
brutally honest
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- honests
- Past tense
- honested
- Comparative
- more honest, honester
- Superlative
- most honest, honestest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She's always been _____ with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable.
Etymology
From Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, related to honor.
Synonyms
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sincere
fair
earnest
fair dinkum
forthright
upfront
foursquare
frank
genuine
legitimate
on the level
on the up-and-up
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for honest
See all rhymes for honest →Frequently asked questions
What does “honest” mean?
The word “honest” means telling the truth and not inclined to lie, cheat, or steal. In plain terms, truthful and trustworthy — not lying, cheating, or hiding things.
How do you pronounce “honest”?
“Honest” is pronounced ON-ihst (/ˈɑ.nɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “honest” in a sentence?
Here is “honest” used in a sentence: “She's always been honest with me, even when the truth was uncomfortable.”
What is another word for “honest”?
Words with a similar meaning to “honest” include earnest, fair dinkum, forthright, upfront, foursquare and frank.
What is the opposite of “honest”?
The opposite of “honest” — its antonyms — are dishonest, hypocritical, insincere and shady.
What part of speech is “honest”?
“Honest” is an adjective.
Where does the word “honest” come from?
The word “honest” comes from Latin. From Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, related to honor.
Is “honest” a common word?
“Honest” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between 'honest' and 'truthful'?
Truthful focuses narrowly on telling the truth — not saying false things. Honest is broader: an honest person tells the truth but is also fair and trustworthy, not inclined to cheat or steal. So all truthful behavior is honest, but honesty covers integrity in actions as well as words.
What is the opposite of 'honest'?
The main opposites are 'dishonest' and 'deceitful', describing someone who lies, cheats, or misleads. Related opposites include 'crooked', 'untrustworthy', and 'fraudulent'. Where an honest person can be relied on to tell the truth and play fair, a dishonest one cannot.
Is 'honest' a positive word?
Yes. Honesty is widely regarded as a core virtue, so calling someone honest is a compliment about their character and reliability. The phrase 'to be honest' can preface a blunt opinion, but even then it frames the speaker as sincere rather than dishonest.
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