Synonyms

secretly

American

[see-krit-lee] / ˈsi krɪt li /

adverb

in a way that is kept from the knowledge of others or is designed to escape their notice.

He later discovered that the couple had secretly married in a discreet ceremony six months ago.
Many of the wood and stone looks you see in homes every day are secretly vinyl flooring.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of secretly

secret ( def. ) + -ly

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.

A campaign by the groups — in collaboration with record labels and distribution teams at Secretly Group, Exceleration Music, Warp Records, Ninja Tune and Beggars Group — features titles pressed on 100% reclaimed material.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Appeared in the March 7, 2026, print edition as 'Russia Secretly Shares Locations of U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Secretly, the newspaper group paid him a financial settlement for quitting and agreed to confidentiality, according to three colleagues and an editor with whom Mr. Cohen spoke.

From New York Times • May 30, 2023

Secretly, I had been extra excited about this dance class.

From Salon • Feb. 17, 2023

Secretly then, as though he were afraid he might be caught, he straightened her hand and touched the little cushion pads on the fingertips.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023