frankly

adverb

frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
spoke frankly
2
: in truth : indeed
frankly, I don't know

Examples of frankly in a Sentence

You can speak frankly to us. frankly, I'd rather stay at home than go to the movies tonight
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.
Miranda Priestly may have snubbed florals as dépassé in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, but nearly 20 years later, contemporary designers are pushing the pattern in exciting directions, bringing a fresh, new, and frankly edgy take on plants—particularly ones with petals. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2025 Well, honestly, that dates all the way back to before the pilot was written, frankly, the research trip that Mindy and I did. Hilary Lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Jan. 2025 Peter, on the other hand, is approaching it in a very old fashioned, very masculine, frankly, way of burying it, ignoring it, and that doesn’t often work. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025 So the talk among President Donald Trump and some fellow Republicans in Congress of attempting to find points of leverage in what will be a monumental recovery effort from the wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles is, frankly, un-American. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for frankly 

Word History

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frankly was in 1537

Dictionary Entries Near frankly

Cite this Entry

“Frankly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frankly. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

frankly

adverb
frank·​ly ˈfraŋ-klē How to pronounce frankly (audio)
1
: in a frank manner
you can speak frankly to us
2
: to tell the truth
frankly, I don't think it's wise

More from Merriam-Webster on frankly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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