apparently
Americanadverb
-
as far as can be known or supposed.
I discussed both options with the litigants, and they are apparently agreeable to either one.
-
obviously; clearly.
Apparently, the tornado went right through the center of the town’s eastern district.
adverb
Usage
What does apparently mean? Apparently means seemingly so based on the appearance of things. It’s a way of saying “it seems that” something is the case or is true. Apparently is the adverb form of the adjective apparent, which can mean readily seen, clear, obvious, or according to appearances. Apparently is most often used in this last sense—referring to things that appear a certain way but may not actually be so. In this way, apparently is often used as a sentence modifier, meaning that it modifies or changes the meaning of the entire sentence. It does this by qualifying the rest of the statement, as in We owe $500, apparently. It can also be used as a sentence substitute, meaning it can be used as a one-word response to a question. Example: Apparently, the store is closed, at least according to what Jim told me—I’ll double check.
Etymology
Origin of apparently
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; apparent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Apparently is an adverb meaning "evidently" or "obviously." After his sixth hot dog, you might say to your friend, "Well! Apparently somebody was hungry!" While apparently can mean "plainly" — like, duh — it can also mean "seemingly," which is almost "evidently" or "obviously," but not quite. There's a certain amount of guessing involved, based on appearances. The park ranger who shows up in the morning to examine the path of destruction through your campsite might say that it was "apparently the work of a hungry bear," not because he's totally sure, but because it definitely looks like something the bears around here would do.
Vocabulary lists containing apparently
"What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" Vocabulary from the short story
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Long Way Down
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Five Feet Apart
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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.
Apparently my constant errors were part of the appeal.
From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026
Apparently, I like “a warm Scandinavian aesthetic” and I’m sensitive to tone, with a preference for “restrained language over hype.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
"They chose to go for the money, which is fine. To return to the Tour, I thought, was a nonstarter. Apparently it's not."
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
Apparently that wasn’t enough for him — or us.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Apparently, library rules about whispering don’t apply here because Emma shouts my name the moment I walk inside.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
