absolutely

[ab-suh-loot-lee, ab-suh-loot-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absolutely ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

without exception; completely; wholly; entirely: You are absolutely right.

positively; certainly.

(of a transitive verb) without an object.

interjection

(used emphatically to express complete agreement or unqualified assent): Do you think it will work? Absolutely!

Origin of absolutely

First recorded in 1525–35; absolute + -ly

Synonyms for absolutely

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR absolutely ON THESAURUS.COM

1. totally, unqualifiedly. 2. unquestionably, unequivocally, definitely.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for absolutely

doubtless, precisely, unconditionally, exactly, unquestionably, actually, definitely, surely, truly, positively, really, categorically, thoroughly, wholly, completely, utterly, fully, entirely, decidedly, easily

Examples from the Web for absolutely

Contemporary Examples of absolutely

This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
January 8, 2015
At least for now, because few things about this dispute are absolutely certain.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead
Dean Obeidallah
January 2, 2015
His goal: to make the perfect (and absolutely comfortable) high-heel, with the help from Nike CEO Mark Parker.
What, and Who, You'll Be Wearing in 2015
Justin Jones
December 27, 2014
Full-grown men play-acting at being hurt when absolutely nothing happened.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity
William O’Connor
December 22, 2014
“He was an absolutely gray and insignificant personality,” says Kurnosova.
Russians Plot Exiled Government in Kiev
Anna Nemtsova
December 16, 2014

Historical Examples of absolutely

I have absolutely refused the latter, let what will (as I have told her) be the consequence.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
And I declare to you, that I know not my own heart, if it not be absolutely free.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
Thackeray thought that it had "absolutely stopped" the sale.
De Libris: Prose and Verse
Austin Dobson
The ability to love cleanly and absolutely is the supreme virtue.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
It has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of you, or with our schemes for money-making.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for absolutely

absolutely

adverb

in an absolute manner, esp completely or perfectly

sentence substitute

yes; certainly; unquestionably

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for absolutely

adv.

late 14c., "unconditionally, completely," from absolute (adj.) + -ly (2). From mid-15c. as "without reference to anything else, not relatively;" meaning "to the utmost degree" emerged by mid-16c. As a colloquial emphatic in American English, it is attested from 1892.