arguably
Britishadverb
Explanation
Use the adverb arguably to describe something that can be asserted or shown to be a certain way. For example, you might say that your favorite teacher is arguably the best teacher in your school. If you declare that a certain restaurant makes what's arguably the best milkshake in town, you mean that a solid argument can be made in favor of their shakes. Use arguably when you want to emphasize or back up a statement or opinion. The word was first used in the late 19th century to mean "as may be shown by argument," from the Latin root word arguere, "make known, prove, or demonstrate."
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.
“The fuel crisis is arguably the most visible shock for ordinary citizens since the mobilization of new troops in September 2022,” Oxford Economics said in a research note this week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson is skipping Glasgow in favour of the European Athletics Championships, which start in Birmingham on 10 August and are arguably the bigger track and field event this summer.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
But while everyone has been watching crude oil, a different oil measure — the one that arguably matters more for the price at the gas pump — has never stopped climbing.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Argentina’s Lionel Messi, 39, is arguably the greatest player in World Cup history, having played more games, scored more goals and collected more assists than anyone who has gone before him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Lowe— arguably the world’s pre-eminent all-around climber—was hired to be Sandy’s personal guide, a job for which he was paid a substantial sum.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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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.