frankly

frankly — adverb

1. in a way that shows what you truly think, without hiding your feelings or trying

1.adverbB2
Definition

in a way that shows what you truly think, without hiding your feelings or trying to be polite.

Example

Hugo spoke frankly about his struggles with anxiety during the team meeting.

spoke frankly about [topic]

The nurse asked Imran to answer frankly about how many cigarettes he smoked each day.

adverbial position after verb: answer frankly about

Common collocations
  • speak frankly
  • talk frankly
  • answer frankly
  • admit frankly
  • discuss frankly
  • tell someone frankly
  • reply frankly
Synonyms
  • honestly

    more general; can describe both manner and character, while frankly focuses on directness of speech

  • candidly

    slightly more formal; implies openness about something difficult or personal

  • openly

    suggests transparency and willingness to share without hiding anything

  • directly

    emphasises going straight to the point, possibly at the cost of politeness

Antonyms
  • dishonestly

    opposite meaning — hiding the truth

  • evasively

    opposite in communication style — avoiding the topic deliberately

Grammar Patterns

frankly modifies a verb of communication

[verb] + frankly about + [topic]

Usage Note

Typically used with verbs of communication: speak, talk, answer, discuss, tell, admit, and reply. The adverb follows the verb or comes between the verb and its object.

Common Mistakes

He frankly spoke to me about the issue.
He spoke frankly to me about the issue.
In the manner-adverb sense, frankly usually follows the verb, not precedes it.

2. used when you want to make it clear that you are expressing your true opinion, e

2.adverbB2
Definition

used when you want to make it clear that you are expressing your true opinion, especially when that opinion could upset or annoy the person hearing it.

Example

Frankly, I think Esteban's proposal has too many problems to be worth considering.

Frankly, + [full clause], introducing a negative opinion

Frankly, Mira doesn't care whether her neighbours approve of her new hairstyle or not.

Common collocations
  • quite frankly
  • frankly speaking
  • more frankly
  • frankly, I think
  • frankly, I don't care
Synonyms
  • honestly

    can replace frankly in most sentence-adverb uses, but is slightly less direct about the risk of offending

  • to be honest

    a more conversational, slightly softer equivalent; often used in everyday speech

  • truthfully

    emphasises factual accuracy rather than blunt directness

Grammar Patterns

Frankly, + [clause]

[clause], frankly, [rest of clause]

Usage Note

This is a sentence adverb (or speaker attitude marker). Unlike sense 1, it modifies the whole statement, not a single verb. It signals that the speaker is making an honest — often critical or uncomfortable — remark. Commonly appears at the start of a sentence or set off by commas.

Common Mistakes

Frankly, he answered the question.' (if meaning 'in a frank manner').
He answered frankly.
When frankly modifies the manner of an action (sense 1), place it after the verb. Sentence-initial position signals the sense 2 meaning of 'to be honest.'

Word family

  • frank
    adjectiveB2
  • frankness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four adverbs all describe being truthful in what you say, but they differ in focus. Frankly emphasises a willingness to say things others might avoid, often at the risk of causing offence — it is about directness of speech. Honestly is broader: it can describe both the manner of speaking and a person's general character. Candidly is more formal and suggests openness about something personal or difficult. Openly implies a lack of secrecy or concealment rather than bluntness. Directly focuses on getting to the point without unnecessary talk, which can be seen as either efficient or rude. For example: 'She told me frankly that my work was not good enough' (risking offence); 'She told me honestly that she had read my report' (simply stating the truth); 'She spoke candidly about her divorce' (personal disclosure).

honestly ↗candidlyopenly ↗directly ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • frankly speaking
  • to put it frankly
  • quite frankly

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Frankly comes from the adjective frank, which entered English through Old French 'franc', meaning 'free'. In medieval times, a 'frank' person was a free citizen (not a serf). From the idea of being 'free-born' came the sense of being 'free-spoken' — saying whatever one wishes without constraint. The suffix -ly turns the adjective into an adverb. So the literal path is: 'free person' → 'open, generous' → 'honest in speech' → 'in an honest manner'.