Standard Lemma guide

honest-to-God

adj · adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adj

Meaning 1

real, true, actual, genuine, bona fide

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: attributive, not-comparable

Examples

  • That's the honest-to-God truth.
  • He's an honest-to-God saint; I don't know what I would do without him!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

Alternative form of honest to God.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, not-comparable

Examples

  • She is honest-to-God brilliant.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

(used informally especially for emphasis)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a real honest-to-god live cowboy
  • had us a high old time
  • went upriver to look at a sure-enough fish wheel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: honest-to-goodness, old(a), sure-enough(a)

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

See honest to God.