newly
Americanadverb
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recently; lately.
a newly married couple.
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anew or afresh.
a newly repeated slander.
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in a new manner or form.
a room newly decorated.
adverb
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recently; lately or just
a newly built shelf
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again; afresh; anew
newly raised hopes
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in a new manner; differently
a newly arranged room
Etymology
Origin of newly
before 900; Middle English; Old English nīwlice. See new, -ly
Explanation
When you describe something as newly happening, it just occurred. A newly hatched chick is barely out of it shell, and a newly arrived classmate just joined your class recently. If you just bought your enormous TV yesterday, you can call it newly acquired, and if your favorite movie finally came out on DVD this weekend, it's newly released. Doing something over again — or as if for the first time — can also be described this way, like when your newly single uncle goes on a blind date. Newly comes from new, with its Old English root neowe, "new, fresh, or recent."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency had already deployed millions of sterile flies after the first Texas case was confirmed last week, and would continue with more releases in newly confirmed areas.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a small, newly developed X-ray telescope could help create a chemical map of the entire lunar surface.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
Permian production bypasses Cushing on its way to Gulf refineries and to export from the newly expanded Port of Corpus Christi through pipelines, which have also been expanded.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026
He also questioned the newly hired executive producer, Nick Bilton, and his ability to run the show, citing his lack of TV news experience.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
Despite wearing head nets and using the newly invented “fly dope,” now known as insect repellent, there was no way to truly get rid of the bugs.
From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
