adv
Common
sincerely
sihn-SEER-lee
Sincerely (adv) means In a genuine, heartfelt manner. Example: “He sincerely apologised for keeping everyone waiting.”
adv
1
In a genuine, heartfelt manner.
"He sincerely apologised for keeping everyone waiting."
"We sincerely thank all the volunteers for their help."
"She sincerely hopes the project succeeds."
2
A standard closing phrase used before a signature in a letter or email.
"In British English, you write yours sincerely when you know the person's name."
"She typed sincerely at the bottom of the email, then added her name."
"The email ended with "Sincerely, John.""
How to use sincerely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGenuinely; also the standard sign-off before your name in formal letters.
UK vs US
Both British and American writers use "Sincerely" as a letter closing, though British formal letters more often use "Yours sincerely" (when addressed by name) or "Yours faithfully" (when not).
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more sincerely
- Superlative
- most sincerely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ apologised for keeping everyone waiting.
Etymology
From sincere plus -ly, from Latin sincērus (“pure, clean, sound”).
Synonyms
View more →
earnestly
wholeheartedly
heartily
candidly
frankly
in earnest
truly
unfeignedly
genuinely
honestly
truthfully
Antonyms
insincerely
Related words
Rhymes for sincerely
See all rhymes for sincerely →Frequently asked questions
What does “sincerely” mean?
The word “sincerely” means in a genuine, heartfelt manner. In plain terms, genuinely; also the standard sign-off before your name in formal letters.
How do you pronounce “sincerely”?
“Sincerely” is pronounced sihn-SEER-lee (/sɪnˈsɪɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “sincerely” in a sentence?
Here is “sincerely” used in a sentence: “She sincerely hopes the project succeeds.”
What is another word for “sincerely”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sincerely” include genuinely, honestly and truthfully.
What part of speech is “sincerely”?
“Sincerely” is an adverb.
Is “sincerely” a common word?
“Sincerely” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sincerely” have?
“Sincerely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a genuine, heartfelt manner.
What is the difference between 'Yours sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully'?
In British letter-writing, 'Yours sincerely' is used when you have addressed the recipient by name (for example, 'Dear Mr Smith'), while 'Yours faithfully' is used when you have not (for example, 'Dear Sir or Madam'). American English generally uses 'Sincerely' in both cases.
What is the difference between 'Sincerely' and 'Best regards' in an email?
'Sincerely' is a fairly formal sign-off suited to serious or official messages. 'Best regards' is warmer and more neutral, making it a common choice for everyday professional emails where 'Sincerely' might feel too stiff.
Should 'sincerely' be capitalised in a letter closing?
Yes. When 'Sincerely' or 'Yours sincerely' closes a letter or email, the first word is capitalised and is followed by a comma before your name. Only the first word takes a capital, so it is 'Yours sincerely,' not 'Yours Sincerely.'
How do you use 'sincerely' in the middle of a sentence?
Outside letter closings, 'sincerely' means in a genuine, heartfelt way, as in 'I sincerely apologise' or 'she sincerely believed it.' Used like this, it stresses that the feeling behind the words is real.
