faithfully

American  

[feyth-fuh-lee] / ˈfeɪθ fə li /

adverb

1. in a strict or thorough way.

   This plan was faithfully carried out to the last detail.

2. remaining true to one’s promises, allegiance, affection, or beliefs; loyally.

   The old man lived as faithfully as he could, always trying to set an example for younger members of his church.

3. in a way that is reliable and can be trusted or believed.

   The plant will die back to the ground during a hard freeze; however, it faithfully returns in spring.

   In accepting taxpayer funds, the recipient agrees to faithfully account for all monies received from the county.

4. in a way that adheres to fact, a standard, or an original.

   The tribute band tries to faithfully reproduce the sound, style, arrangement, and instrumentation of the original artist’s recordings.

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Other Word Forms

• overfaithfully
  adverb
• pseudofaithfully
  adverb
• quasi-faithfully
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of faithfully

faithful ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

To act faithfully is to behave in a dependable and honorable way. A dog who waits faithfully outside your school until you get out of class is devoted and trustworthy. The adverb faithfully describes an action or behavior that's faithful — in other words, it's steadfast, loyal and reliable. An actor's parents might faithfully attend every play he's in, no matter how small his role is. Your devout uncle might faithfully attend church every single Sunday. In both examples, a person is dependable. The earliest meaning of faithfully was "acting in a way full of (religious) faith," or being pious, especially as a Christian.

Example Sentences

Robert Icke’s “Oedipus” was hardly a retread of an ancient Greek classic and “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” may have hewed faithfully to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score, but everything else about this production seemed completely reborn.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

More and more versions of “If you don’t want to adapt literature faithfully, call it something else,” are popping up online daily.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

"Stephen Miller has faithfully served President Trump for years because he's intelligent, hardworking, and loyal," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the BBC.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

So I can’t promise that I will faithfully follow the Costanza Method next year.

From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025

I devoured everything Akhi said and tried to faithfully execute everything he told me through the weeks and months of practicing together.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• conscientiously